One of the main outcomes of the invention of the Open Badges by Mozilla and the MacArthur Foundation was to creating the conditions for making informal learning visible. While until their invention, only formal learning was visible (certificates, diplomas, grades, etc.) Open Badges opened recognition to informal learning. They were mainly used to recognise the formal recognition of informal learning. Was it open enough? Could we open even further?
One of the major problems with the Open Badge technology initially developed by Mozilla, the Mozilla Backpack, is that it did not allow those with a Backpack to issue their own badges. We had to wait 2019, 8 years, for that to change with the transition of the Mozilla Backpack to Badgr. Now, thanks to Concentric Sky and Badgr.io we have redeemed the original sin of depriving Backpack users of the right to create and issue their own badges — something that was possible earlier with Credly.
Allowing people to create and issue their own badges was another step to opening recognition. Now, we could not just support formal recognition of informal learning but also informal recognition of... anything, formal and informal learning, experience, achievements engagements etc. No need to beg for a badge that doesn't exist: create and issue your badge and ask others to endorse your badge, thanks to the Open Badges 2.0 specification.
So, now that we have Open Badges, based on an Open Standard, issued and collected on a platform which is Open Source, have we reached the pinacle of recognition openness? Not exactly...
Why? Think of recognition practices and assess how different Open Badge platforms are more or less conducive to innovative practices. You might discover that there are platforms which are not Open Source that are more conducive to innovative practice than their Open Source counterparts...
So, here is a dilemma: if you believe in "openness" and you have the choice between a platform that is not open source, but allows innovative recognition practices, and one which is open source but does not allow this kind of innovation, what would be your choice?
I am inclined to prefer the open source platform, as it can always be improved through community effort. The non-open platform carries inherent risks of being bought/sold, leveraged for profit, or used in unethical ways. Not that open source products aren't used unethically, but with something like badging I believe the open source platform has a higher chance of remaining open and accessible for longer.
I would choose the open source platform and work to make it so it allows innovative recognition practices.