Maker Badges
The Design Immersion skill badges — how we measure learning by actions taken, not facts memorized.
Here is our full system of Maker Badges! Badges are evidence-based, co-owned artifacts: students self-document their work and "apply" for badges, so teachers can measure and reward progress in skills even while efforts toward a finished product fail or are abandoned. The badges implement the learning pathways of the SteamHead Design Immersion Curriculum.
This is a public version and we welcome edits and discussion — save your own copy, modify as you like, or contribute your changes back to us.
Design Thinking Skills — Heart · Head · Hand
Six core skills, each with three badge tiers. Heart skills connect projects to real people; Head skills define and develop ideas; Hand skills bring them to life and test them.
Share
Workshop
Teach a real class on how to build your project!
Service
Install or implement your project in a real world location
Digital Citizen Post
Write a article and post a photo about your pr0ject.
Empathize
Interviews
Interview people to understand who they are, what they do, why, and in what environment
Field Research
Visit real world locations and record data on your users
Empowered Searcher
Find the history of your audience to understand their culture and environment
Define
User Stories
Write or record stories of people having problems that you want to address, using an AGILE format
Roleplay
Using simple props, express your insights into the situations and needs of your subjects
Mind Map
Create a wall size map, showing people, problems, and solutions
Ideate
Sketching
Drawing rough drafts of solutions you think of; only good enough to convey general meanings.
Story Boarding
Create a comic book illustrating solutions you would like your subjects to have
Brain Storm
Discuss and record 5-10 ideas for designs, from typical to wild.
Prototype
Work Plan
From setup and cleanup tasklists, DT boards, or even full business plans, create a plan!
Physical Prototype
Create a model of your design (skill ideas below). Prototypes are not meant to be fully functional, but rather to show some of your ideas in a physical form.
Digital Prototype
Create a digital model of your design. Show your ideas in visual form instead of relying on live communication to express details.
Testing
Gather Feedback
Get constructive feedback from others, via a presentation, sharing experience, or series of demonstrations
Reflection
To better understand others, reflect upon your own purpose, biases, viewpoint, and goals in an essay.
Beta Test
Use your prototype in a controlled situation, but with real users and environments
Maker Skills — Fabrication & Digital Tools
Hands-on tool skills in escalating tiers, from hand tools and card craft through CNC machines, microprocessors, and IoT app design.
Hand Crafts
Hand Tools
Hand drills, hand saws, screw drivers, pliers… and use them on wood alongside other materials!
Block Circuits
Build a guided project, open project, and solo invention using Little Bits or similar
Card Craft
Manipulating cardboard, foam core, and card stock is a core prototyping skill! Start simple, and keep adding projects (forever)
Stitch Craft
Measure, outline, cut, sew, dye and print onto fabric to create softgoods!
Power Tools
Power Carpentry
Create simple projects using electric tools! Drills, sanders, saws? Be careful!
Power Stitch Craft
Electric sewing machines are fun! Make tool belts, pillow, etc
Electro Craft
Solder wires, use heat guns, and power supplies while making projects
Metal Working
Welding, cutting, melting and manipulating metals!
Automated Fabrication
Simple Printers
Give students control! Large scale, tiled, new media. Responsible and effective use of this tool is where to start.
Laser Cutter
Start off downloading premade design files and using the machine, later design your own!
3D Printer
Start off downloading premade design files and using the machine, later design your own!
CNC Drill
Utilize computer-controlled drilling machines to create precise and complex holes and shapes in materials like wood and metal
Circuit Design
Simple PCBs
voice recorder beatbox, electronic sythesizer, BIY arduino board
Microprocessors
microbit, arduino, rasberry pi, jet nano, edison
Electronic Sensors
Light, motion, and sound to start, more sensors possible
Breadboards
Custom circuit design
Media
Photo Editing
Vector Artwork
Use 2D vector editing programs to create designs including art, infographics, and design elements.
3D Modeling
3D drawing of a physical model, using measurements
Videography
Shoot a video to communicate something creatively
Coding
Hacking
Download and modify programs or media
App Design
Design a game or application
Robotics Coding
Use sensors and actuators to create cars, robots, machines
iOT App Design
Design a game or application that sends and receives data over the internet
The Five-Level Skill Track
Beyond the badge tiers, the downloadable spreadsheet includes a full skill track that grades 36 core skills across five levels — Introductory, Early, Preparatory, Intermediate, and Advanced — to help teachers place badge work per grade, per project, per class, or even per individual student.
Licensed CC BY-NC-SA 4.0, like the curriculum itself. If you build something with it, we'd love to hear about it — get in touch.