How can gamification, digital badges, and microcredientials meaningfully enhance learning, motivation, and career readiness--without reducing education to points and prizes?

Listen as Mary Kate Naatus, Ph.D., Dean of Continuing Education and Professional Studies and Associate Professor of Marketing in the Stillman School of Business, discusses the growing role of microcredentials in lifelong learning and workforce development. She explores how universities can create meaningful, community-centered learning experiences that help students and professionalsbuild practical skills, professional networks, and career readiness in a rapidly changing world.  We will also hear from Ben Pincus, MBA, MSBM, Associate Dean for Assessment and Engagement and Professor in the Department of Management within the Stillman School of Business, who shares how gamification and badging can support student engagement and professional skill development. He also discusses the importance of creating experiences that help students apply what they’velearned and communicate the value of those experiences to future employers.  Stay tuned for the next season of Innovate and Educate, coming in Fall 2026!    Key topics + time stamps   Series and Episode Introduction [00:00-01:00 ]   Mary Kate Naatus, Ph.D., who serves as the Associate Provost of Partnerships & Global Initiatives, the Dean of Continuing Education and Professional Studies, as well as an Associate Professor, Stillman School, Department of Marketing [01:01-10:53 ]  Ben Pincus, MBA, MSBM, Associate Dean for Assessment and External Engagement, Stillman School of Business [10:55-20:26 ]   Episode Wrap-up [20:30-21:55 ]      Resources   Mary Kate Naatus, Ph.D.: Contact Information  Ben Pincus, MBA, MSBM: Contact Information     Episode Homepage & Contact Info: Website   Email address: [email protected]