Digital badges, the latest buzz phrase to circle around continuing and higher education, has a new sponsor. The John  D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation recently announced that it was launching a competition that will award $2 million to anyone that can develop a workable digital badge and badge system.

What is a digital badge? Think about the Boy and Girl Scout badges that you earned as a kid and factor in lifelong learning. Digital badges will travel with you, documenting both formal and informal learning, along with information about the specific accomplishments and the issuing organization. Will they replace diplomas and certificates? Probably not, but they may help recognize the diversity of skills we collect along our unique career paths.