5. Identify the completion criteria for any badge you have earned (traditional or digital).
My Brownie badge was earned by meeting task-based criteria set by org and described in a manual. I did the task at home and a parent signed a form.
Several years back, I completed a 'Moodle Course Creator Certificate' (competency-based demo and exam) and thought it cool that I could simply quote the cert and number on resume and it was linked to moodle.org database (verification). Sort of a pre-badge thing - I wonder if they have moved to badges now?
6. Describe a hierarchy or network of badges.
Consider this story from the construction trades:
If you've ever worked in construction you know how the worksite can be crazy with a lot of different crews running around, a lot of noise and action. You also know safety is the top concern - right up there with time and money. SO here's a badge parallel:
The new guy has to wear a green hard hat/ or a green sticker on the hat. After the site safety officer says (combo of time and competent behaviour), the guy gets another colour sticker. The experienced guys don't have to wear any stickers.
I'm working with construction workers now, and those who don't have jobs would be really happy to have the green sticker hat, because it would show they were accepted onto the crew. Then, they would be happy to get the next colour because it would show others they met expectations. Finally, I'd guess they would be happy not to have to have any sticker on their hat because it showed they were higher level, experienced guys.
So this is a sequential hierarchy in one domain. And the 'badges' play an important external role (safety risk identification) as well as being intrinsic motivators.
In considering the questions, I come up with different answers depending on whether the badge speaks of external achievement/credential/ participation (probably hierarchical and clustered) or simply of the learning and engagement of the badge holder (networks, micro-badges, design choice).