Canvas Credentials (formerly Badges)

Canvas Credentials is a digital badging platform integrated with Canvas that allows institutions to issue and manage digital badges, skills pathways, and learner records. These credentials, or badges, verify skills, achievements, and other qualifications, making it easier for learners to showcase their abilities to potential employers.

1. Recognize Student Achievement Beyond Grades

Canvas Credentials allow instructors to award digital badges for skills, milestones, or behaviors—such as leadership, collaboration, or completing optional modules—that might not be reflected in traditional grading.

2. Motivate and Engage Students

Badges can increase motivation by providing students with visible, attainable goals. Earning a badge for each completed module, for instance, gives students a sense of progress and accomplishment.

3. Track Competency-Based Learning

Instructors can align badges with specific competencies or learning outcomes. This provides a clear, transparent way for students to understand and demonstrate mastery of key course objectives.

4. Create Stackable Micro-Credentials

Canvas Credentials can be used to build pathways of learning where students earn a series of badges that culminate in a larger credential or certificate, adding value to their academic portfolio.

5. Provide Shareable Proof of Skills

Students can share earned badges on LinkedIn or in digital portfolios, helping them showcase concrete skills and achievements to potential employers or graduate programs.

Benefits:

Enhanced Skills Recognition:

It allows learners to showcase their skills beyond traditional transcripts, demonstrating their abilities in a more concrete way. 

Improved Workforce Readiness:

By verifying skills, it helps prepare students for in-demand jobs. 

Data-Rich and Shareable:

Badges are designed to be shareable and verifiable, allowing for greater transparency and credibility. 

Alignment with Open Badges Standards:

Canvas Credentials is an early adopter of the Open Badges 2.1 standard, ensuring interoperability with other platforms. 

Challenges:

Additional Setup and Learning Curve

Canvas Credentials requires instructors to learn a new interface and badge-creation workflow, which can be time-consuming—especially for those already managing a heavy course load.

Perceived as Extra or Unnecessary

Some instructors may see digital badges as “fluff” or nonessential, especially if their course is highly structured around traditional assessments and doesn’t emphasize soft skills or extracurricular achievement.

Limited Student Interest or Awareness

If students don’t see value in digital badges or don’t know how to use them (e.g., adding to LinkedIn or portfolios), instructors might feel the effort to implement them goes unappreciated.

Integration and Support Challenges

Not all departments or institutions fully support Canvas Credentials yet, which can lead to inconsistencies in access, troubleshooting, or recognition of the badges across courses or programs.

1. Sign into your Boise State Canvas account and select the course you want to work in.

2. Once in the Canvas Course Site, go to Settings.

3. Select the Navigation Tab. Locate “Credentials” in the list and make sure it is added to the top list / active list.

   1. NOTE: “Credentials” is the new name for “Badges” as of May 2025

4. Select Save at the bottom of the Settings Screen.

5. Credentials will now show as available on the Course Navigation Menu. Click on Credentials and follow the prompts to access and use.

If you need further support in using Canvas Credentials, please contact the Boise State Help Desk via email, chat, or phone.

Learning Technology Solutions (LTS) also offers daily Zoom Sessions for consultations regarding learning technologies. Schedule and links available on LTS Zoom Help Sessions Calendar.