Hi Harold,

While I agree with your point about rampant gamification, I'd suggest that it can work in particular contexts when done well.

Also, and this is the main reason I'm commenting, is that badges and gamification are two separate things. Badges can capture the skills, attitudes and behaviours you seek to reward in a given constituency of people - either in formal education, informal education, training, or otherwise.

I'd love to have a conversation with you some time about badges as micro-credentials. :-)