Micro-credentials provide teachers with recognition for the skills they develop throughout their careers and can lead to career and compensation advancement. They are also a different, yet effective, way to learn and demonstrate competency. Here are some tools and tips to assist educators in navigating a micro-credential for the first time.
MICRO-CREDENTIAL OVERVIEW:
Requirements are sometimes interconnected and inform each other, so it is very important to click and read through the entire micro-credential, including all requirements and rubrics, PRIOR to beginning the work. This will provide a comprehensive view and allow for more effective backward planning.
REQUIREMENTS & RUBRICS:
Requirements describe the activities of the Micro-credential; the rubrics detail quality indicators and criteria for success. Review your rubrics before, during, and after the development of your artifacts to ensure alignment.
RESOURCES:
Resources are available for each requirement. Use these resources as a way to help you check for understanding, extend your knowledge, and successfully meet the rubric criteria.
COLLABORATE:
Your colleagues are also learning the micro-credentialing process. Use the Collaborate feature to interact with your peers in Discussions specific to your program. Utilize your facilitators to ask questions and receive guidance. Chances are it is a question others have as well.
BACKWARD PLAN:
Backward plan to determine when you will collect evidence based on the requirements of the micro-credential. Read the entire micro-credential before you start working and create a plan. Set goals with a colleague and mark them on your calendar. Plan the evidence you will need to collect and when. For example, if a video is part of the required evidence, it is good practice to record yourself multiple times and choose the best video.
REMEMBER: Micro-credentials are a change from the traditional learning experience. You are learning by doing and, through successful completion, demonstrating your competencies as a professional. This is not a pass-fail experience, but a reflective learning experience where you may not earn the micro-credential on the first try. If you do not earn on the first submission, you will receive feedback and have the opportunity to re-submit.