Pearson's Open Badge Solution Provides Validated and Easy-to-Share Proof of Qualifications and Skills.

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Feb 13, 2014, 01:02 ET

BLOOMINGTON, Minn., Feb. 13, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Pearson, the world's leading learning company, is offering academic institutions, professional associations and other high-stakes credentialing programs an innovative new Open Badge platform called Acclaim.

Acclaim gives organizations the ability to translate and recognize someone's professional achievements and learning outcomes with Open Badges, which can be shared and validated online, it was announced at the Summit to Reconnect Learning in Silicon Valley yesterday.

A digital badge is simply an online representation of a skill or achievement an individual has earned. Open Badges take that concept one step further, allowing a learner to verify skills, achievements and learning outcomes through credible organizations and then share and display them on the web.

Open Badge-earners have complete control to display them wherever they choose – on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, a blog or website – to prove their credentials. This allows potential employers to quickly and easily verify the qualifications of job applicants.

Acclaim's unique approach to applying the Mozilla Open Badge standard is to work with academic institutions and high-stakes credentialing organizations to offer diplomas, certificates and other professional credentials as Open Badges.

"Acclaim was designed to expand internationally and connect individuals with jobs in emerging global economies," said Mark Johnson, VP, Career and Credentialing Platforms at Pearson. "Acclaim Open Badges are a game-changer in the way credentials will be handled, by both employers interested in quickly verifying qualifications and learners who will now be able to prove and showcase their achievements whenever and wherever they like."

ISACA, a global association of 110,000 information systems security, assurance, governance and risk professionals, is currently implementing Acclaim Open Badges for four of its certifications.

Allan Boardman, international president of ISACA and chair of ISACA's Credentialing and Career Management Board said, "Open Badging is an important benefit for ISACA certification holders. It provides digital and verifiable recognition of their significant accomplishments."

Visit www.reconnectlearning.org/summit for additional information about the summit.

About Pearson
Pearson (www.pearson.com) is the world's leading education company, providing educational materials, technologies, assessments and related services to teachers and students of all ages. It generates approximately 60 percent of sales in North America but operates in over 70 countries. Pearson is also a leading provider of electronic learning programs and of test development, processing and scoring services to educational institutions, corporations and professional bodies around the world.

SOURCE Pearson