ACTAL 2025 BADGES

UNC Wilmington

Badging and Beyond

Alyssa Wharton

Design and implementation of a Microcredential system for makerspace users

Makerstudio Coordinator

Alyssa Wharton

About

whartona@uncw.edu

• Started at UNC Greensboro as a student worker in Jackson Library
• Hired as manager in 2014
• Moved to UNC Wilmington in 2019
• Will hopefully graduate MSEd in Dec!

11/6

Index

10. Thanks!

9. Moving Forward

8. Today

7. Data Breakdown

6. Data

5. Process

4. LMS

3. Design of space

2. Timeline

1. why

Why

High demand, consistency,& risk management What do we mean by badging?

Timeline

Touring NC Makerspaces and beyond

Touring Spaces

Visiting other Makerspaces pre-move

2022

2024

2023

Discussing Badges

Launch Badging system

North Carolina Makerspaces group

Developed over the Summer, launched at the beginning of Fall semester

Design of space

Color Coding and stations

• Activities and equipment are "grouped"
• Section hazardous equipment in "hazard zone" by ventillation exhaust
• Keeping the space modular keeps it accessible

LMS (Canvas)

Using existing campus infrastructure

• General Safety is a prerequisite for all other modules
• Informed Consent and Release agreement

• Practice Quiz
• Certification Quiz

Check it out here

Process

To use the badging system

data

August 2024 - June 2025

• 230 Users enrolled in Canvas course
• Passed 100 users enrolled in December
• 21 Users participated in more than one training module quiz
• 119 Users submitted an informed consent and release agreement
• 176 Users spent more then 10 minutes on the course

Laser

7 total participants

5 Completed the Module

Cricut

15 total participants

12 Completed the Module

Sewing

24 total participants

24 Completed the Module

3D Printing

29 total participants

75 Badge Achievements Total

25 Completed the Module

TODAY

July 2025 - Present

• 217 Users enrolled in Canvas course

• 70 Users completed General Safety Certification
• 45 Students completed other badge certifications
• 49 Users attempted or left General Safety as incomplete
• Users are curious but can't commit OR users are touring

Moving Forward

future plans for badging

• Better data collection methods
• Check in via card swipe
• New resource section with no prerequisite
• Move VR/Audio modules to resources
• Add levels to badges
• Boss laser and Embroidery machine
• Hazard training
• Soldering

THANK YOU

EMAIL ME TO TALK ABOUT MORE!whartona@uncw.edu