The *Digital Media and Learning Research Competition* closes on January 6, 2012 at 5 pm PST/8 pm EST. The Research Competition application requirements can be found here<http://dmlcompetition.net/Competition/4/research-competition-announcement.php> . *(Please note that although we will make every effort to assist applicants with questions and technical problems on the final day of the Research Competition, due to expected volume, we cannot make any promises. The application system is open now and we advise applicants not to wait until the last moment to apply.) If you have already submitted your application, you can view it here<http://dmlcompetition.net/Competition/4/research-proposals.php?show=dmlc-4rg>. For information on applying, click here<http://dmlcompetition.net/Competition/4/research-apply.php>. Questions or concerns?Email your inquiry to dml@hri.uci.edu. ***** *Digital Media and Learning Research Competition: Call for Applications**** *Badges, Trophies, and Achievements: Recognition and Accreditation for Informal and Interest-Driven Learning* ***Deadline: January 6, 2012 at 5pm PST/8pm EST * *Awards: $5,000 to $80,000* Online networks, digital resources, and gaming environments provide rich opportunities for learning that is demand-driven and learner-centered. More and more people are turning to networked knowledge communities, online tutorials, and other digital resources for wide ranging learning needs. While learning is migrating to these more informal and non-institutionalized kinds of contexts, we still have little research that examines how people assess, recognize, and display the learning that happens in these settings. - What are the emerging techniques and practices for managing reputation and recognizing learning? - What are the broad historical and structural understandings of how accreditation operates in our changing social and cultural environment? - What systems exist for recognizing learning outside of formal degree and training programs? - How do credentials and other displays of achievement operate in the digital and networked world? - What kinds of skills and experiences have not been well captured by existing credentialing and recognition systems? - How is the landscape of credentialing changing (or not) with the shift to digital and networked society? We seek empirical and theoretical research focusing on these questions. Studies should focus on areas such as: - Ranking, badging, and achievement systems in games, clubs, competitions, and other forms of interest-driven activities. - Accreditation and certificates outside of formal degree programs, including areas such as work skills training, language, writing and critical capabilities, arts, crafts, and other trades. - The role of credentials, badges, and other recognitions of achievement in career and reputation development. - Empirical, theoretical, and critical studies of how companies, groups, institutions, and individuals produce, utilize, and exploit various credentialing and reputation systems. *Apply to the Research Competition here<http://dmlcompetition.net/Competition/4/research-apply.php> by Friday, January 6, 2012, 5pm PST/8pm EST. * * * Sheryl Grant Director, Social Networking HASTAC/MacArthur Foundation Digital Media & Learning Competition <http://www.dmlcompetition.net/> Duke University Box 90403 114. S. Buchanan Blvd., Bay 5 Durham, NC 27708-0403 <http://www.youtube.com/user/video4hastac#g/p>