Academic Skills Badges
Participate in training with the Student Success Centre and get a badge — or micro-credential — that you can display in your UCalgary Badges profile or social media.
What is a digital badge?
A digital badge is a form of micro-credential that can be used to keep track of the competencies and knowledge you've acquired. They can be used to show your peers or potential employers that you're proficient or certified in a specific skill.
When you've completed a training program at UCalgary, you can collect and share your achievements on your profile or social media sites such as LinkedIn.Ìý
Time commitment
- 2 hours
Format
- Online/asynchronous, OR
- In-person/synchronous
Transferable skills
- Time management
- Project management
- Taking initiative
- Critical thinking
Level Up Your Learning: Academic Success Strategies
Become a better learner! With this badge program, you'll build a strong foundation of learning and related skills to maximize your academic success. Get acquainted with the university environment and expectations, learn how to manage your time and take better notes, and discover useful campus supports you can access.
The online and in-person badge formats cover the same content, so you can choose your preferred delivery format:
- Online: Register for the asynchronous D2L course and complete all module components at your own pace to earn the badge.
- In-person: Register for a synchronous, in-person session, and then attend and participate in the discussion-based activities to earn the badge.
This badge was designed with first-year students in mind, but any Áù¾ÅÉ«Ìà student who wants to review academic foundations is welcome to participate!
After completing this badge, you'll be able to:
- Describe what makes university learning different from other educational experiences
- Identify time management techniques you could apply to your schedule
- Explain the steps involved in taking and using notes effectively
- Summarize the different academic resources and supports available on campus
Each module starts with an overview that identifies learning outcomes and activities. Common activities that you will encounter, each indicated by a distinct icon, include the following:
The University Environment
- Tools and tips for learning in a post-secondary setting
Managing Your Time
- Effective time management strategies
Taking Notes You Can Study With
- The note-taking process
Making the Most of Campus Resources
- UCalgary supports, services and opportunities for students
Assessment
- Complete a short quiz to review your understanding of key concepts and earn the digitalÌýbadge
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Time commitment
- 5 hours
Format
- In-person, with a short online component
Transferable skills
- Leadership
- Facilitation
- Planning and organization
Leading Others in Learning
Looking for an opportunity to build your leadership skills while fitting in some extra study time?ÌýWith this training, you’ll explore the benefits of learning with others, while equipping yourself with the skills needed to lead others in inclusive and effective study sessions and more!
If you're interested in running a study group, developing your facilitation or presentation skills, or becoming a Ìýin the future, this badge provides a great foundation.
- Students who are interested in hosting study sessions or pursuing employment opportunities on campus that support student learning.
- Students who would like to develop the transferable skills of leadership, communication, and facilitation.
- Students who would like to build on what they learned in the Level Up Your Learning: Academic Success Strategies digital badge (note: this is not a prerequisite).
After completing this digital badge, you’ll be able to:
- Describe how to uphold academic integrity when collaborating with others in learning
- Explain the benefits of studying in a group
- Create a study group plan that incorporates inclusive facilitation practices and active learning
- Outline the leadership skills commonly used by study group facilitators
In-person workshops: Students will register for, and attend, three in-person workshops in sequence:
- Inclusive Facilitation Practices
- Engaging Your Study Group in Active Learning
- Leading Others in Learning
During the workshops, students will have a chance to discuss topics with others, practice facilitation skills, and apply their learning to create a study group plan of their own.
As an application of learning, students are asked to complete a task in preparation for each session. By the end of the badge, students will have a completed study plan to submit.
Online module: In addition to attending the in-person workshops, students will be added to a D2L site that houses an interactive academic integrity module and additional resources. This module can be completed before (encouraged) or between in-person workshops.