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"A recent article points out that both students and postsecondary institutions are increasingly embracing the ideal of the "T-shaped" graduate: the combination of deep "vertical" knowledge in a particular domain with a broad set of "horizontal" skills such as teamwork, communications, facility with data and technology, an appreciation of diverse cultures, and advanced literacy skills. These horizontal skills are gained from a burgeoning set of internships, co-op programs, community service learning programs, study-abroad programs, undergraduate research programs to supplement coursework, and professional development seminars for graduate students to build skills for work beyond the lab. But as the article points out, the challenge is to recognize and validate the skills and abilities that emerge from these diverse learning experiences. Enter digital badges.1 In a higher education setting, digital badges are symbols that represent discrete academic achievements or valued skills not represented by course outcomes or a degree. These smaller achievements can represent incremental learning and progress toward more significant goals. They can also recognize learning and skill building that is not part of, but enhances or complements, a formal degree program. As such, badges are becoming an increasingly popular way for universities to more fully document the breadth of student learning."

Mozilla's open Badges program exemplifies this concept. Your given badges based on a proven skill. The Multimedia program is looking at maybe trying it out. http://openbadges.org/

Graphic on Bloom's Taxonomy that provides classification of learners along a thinking continuum.