Mozilla wiki page on their open digital badge system. Good graphic of how it works.

Good history of Mozilla's open badge project, a joint venture between the Mozilla and MacArthur foundations. The open badge system is now called Badgr and is launched by a new entity for this purpose, Concentric Sky in partnership with edX. It is still open source and badge criteria still displays with the badge when awarded and displayed on a web site, profile, etc.

by Lily Herman who was named one of Glamour magazine's Top 10 College Women in 2015. She writes about the awards ceremony, and being seated with some famous, accomplished women she admires. Here are her tips: treat them like real people; don't be afraid to get a little personal; don't skip the follow-up

from Inc.com by Minda Zetlin. Here tips: figure out who matters most - id a critical few; pick your next tier of 50 - 100 contacts; find easy ways to engage everyone else; if you want to connect - find a way to help that person; be intriguing by arousing that person's curiosity with something unexpected; think people, not positions; give before you ask; be generous.

by Taunee Besson, CareerCast.com senior columnist about David Bell who successfully used networking to land a new job. His 6 tips: Ask people for info, not a job; start with people you know, then who they know, and finally strangers after you have practice; know what you want to say ahead of time, but don't have a canned speech; recognize you will have good and bad days; prepare a specific topic for each discussion; if your contact refers you to other people, let them know how it turned out.

from Entrepreneur.com. Another article on how to network when you are an introvert. First suggestion is network and make connections online to develop relationships on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and other social media platforms. This is especially helpful if you are going to a conference or event as you will "know" people before you get there, and they will know you. Arrange to meet up with them ahead of time. Talk about your accomplishments to better connect with others so they know what you have done and what connections you have with them. Discuss your goals and ideas to join or jumpstart the conversation, and ask for others' goals and ideas. Don't overthink it and go over and over your interactions. Concentrate on the positives you get out of the interaction. Maintain strong relationships when they develop and keep in touch regularly. Take Notes - remember faces, names, and what they said. Send an email to them to continue the conversation and remind them of who you are.

by Andrew Vest from July 28, 2014 in Forbes/Entrepreneurs. Although geared to f2f encounters, these tips work for online networking as well. Start networking before you need it; Have a plan; Forget your personal agenda; Never dismiss anyone as unimportant; Connect the dots.

from CIO.com by Meredith Levinson, Dec. 11, 2007. Some tips for introverts for f2f networking: smart small, don't apologize when asking for help, tap into your primal instincts as a human communal, tribal animal, be yourself, tap into your passions, ask for introductions, be generous, be prepared, follow up, get over your fear of rejection, take risks, see a shrink if you can't open up.

Nice infographic on How to Network in 3 parts: Mastering the Basics, Using the Internet to Network, Exploring Why we network

Infographic from LinkedIn on How to Network on LinkedIn.

From the Open: The SmallBusiness Network on how networking is actually about getting to know people whom you can help and can help you. Tips for networking: Give and get information; Evaluate the value of the contact; form a strategic alliance - know what the people in your network do; Maintenance - continue to re-evaluate the people in your info loop.

From ReferralCandy.com on the difference between social networks and social media. Examines the history of using these terms: prior to 2010, social network was more widely used. Sites such as Facebook and Twitter were just trying to connect people together. However, after 2010 both FB and Twitter started to become news and resource sources and the emphasis changed from connections to content. An example from Twitter: Used to ask - What are you doing? Now ask - what is happening?

From Entrepreneur, February 19, 2015. Identifies 2 different networkers online: posters and seekers. Those who actively post info, resources, tips, offers are posters. Seekers are the consumers of products, services, and content. On social media, look for high-level networkers (HLN), those who are very active and have at least 500 connections on LinkedIn or Xing.

Good definition of social media vs. social networking from Huffpost Books by Fauzia Burke, 10/2/2013. Defines social media as the content you upload, and a one-to-many communication method. You own the content you share and have to produce it yourself. Social Networking, on the other hand, is engaging your audience with sites like Facebook and Twitter. Social Networking is about creating relationships, communicating with your readers, building a following. It is important to listen as much as talk with social networking so it becomes a sharing, and conversation-rich communication.

Review of Melissa Broder's book that documents her twitter account use of twitter to express sad, hurt, and negative feelings vs. the sunny posts you usually get. Interesting review of social media use in general.

John Stepper's site that includes his Working Out Loud Circle guide.

Stephen Downes's keynote to the World Congress on Continuing Professional Development, San Diego, CA from May 19, 2016 He begins with the assertion that learning is personal - based on personal practice - then put into practice in a learning network. Progress and evaluation through practice is based on performance in authentic communities. Contains slides, audio, and video

From the NYT March 19, 2016 Behaviors of millennials in the workplace: social sharing of everything is the norm, they have to be inspired to work, they text people sitting next to them rather than talk directly, and have no boundaries between work and personal life.

great graphic on How to grow a PLN by Jacques Cool and Sylvia Duckworth. Use this in one of our blogs! https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-v-MKsf-fAiE/VMOekEmY_KI/AAAAAAAAQC8/mhouAI3iXhc/w890-h668-no/IMG_2006.JPG

from Lifehacker by Thorin Klosowski from 2/10/16 Quick overview of taking 5 minutes/day to journal about what you learned during the day. Love the LAF suggestion in the comments: what was Learned; Accomplished; Favorite moment of the day