It’s still possible to work on your micro-credentials during periods of time when you lack access to students and/or colleagues (winter, spring, and summer break, for example) or when you are working with students and/or colleagues in an online or remote setting
1. Are there micro-credentials specifically designed for virtual/online learning environments?
Yes. Please contact your organization’s lead or BloomBoard Support (support@bloomboard.com) for more information on which micro-credentials are best suited for virtual/online learning environments.
2. Can I use past experiences and previous implementation evidence/artifacts to complete the micro-credentials?
Yes, as long as the evidence you submit meets the requirement/rubric criteria. For example, some micro-credentials require educators to collect student work samples. If you have existing student work samples that are applicable, consider using them for this micro-credential. Remember, you can earn micro-credentials by demonstrating evidence of a new or existing competency.
3. Can I use student work that I collected earlier in the year and apply it to this micro-credential?
Yes, as long as it meets the requirement/rubric criteria. For example, a micro-credential might require you to annotate at least 3 work samples from students who are at different levels of mastery. If you have existing student work samples that are applicable, consider using them for this micro-credential. Remember, you can earn micro-credentials by demonstrating evidence of a new or existing competency.
4. Can I implement a micro-credential with students in a virtual setting and record that meeting as evidence?
Yes, as long as it meets the requirement/rubric criteria. For example, a micro-credential might require you to lead a class discussion connecting students’ ideas and deepening their mathematical understanding. This can be done using online video conferencing tools, if available or applicable. Always be sure to ask permission before starting a recording and adhere to FERPA and your school or district’s student privacy rules. For more information view our support article on Student Privacy and BloomBoard's Terms of Use.
5. Can I meet with my mentor, mentee, school leader, coach, etc. in a virtual setting and record that meeting as evidence?
Yes, as long as it meets the requirement/rubric criteria. Always be sure to ask permission before starting a recording and adhere to FERPA and your school or district’s student privacy rules.
Please note, if you are completing university courses, you should reach out to your assigned faculty member as needed or review the university handbook for questions regarding FERPA and privacy policies.
6. Is there a timeframe in which I must submit my micro-credentials?
Your work on micro-credentials is not time-bound. You can begin working on a micro-credential in October and then return to it in January. Any work you’ve entered or uploaded will still be there! Note: your access to micro-credentials may be limited by your organization’s contract with BloomBoard.
7. If my students upload work to Google Classroom (or another learning management system), can I use that as an artifact?
Yes, as long as it meets the requirement/rubric criteria. For example, a micro-credential might require you to collect and upload exit tickets from 2 students and annotate their work to explain the extent to which each student demonstrated understanding of the lesson’s key ideas. Student work can be collected through Google Classroom or other online tools. Students could take a picture of their work to submit to a teacher or submit typed evidence.
8. What if I only have asynchronous, not together in real-time, tools for implementation?
Some suggestions for implementing if you only have asynchronous, not together in real-time, tools are to:
- Write out the lesson in a learning management system (LMS) like Google Classroom, Canvas, Blackboard, etc. or record yourself teaching the lesson and provide directions for students to upload their assignment or email it to you.
- Collect student work or other evidence in a discussion board or chat tool. (within your LMS, Basecamp, texting, Slack, Chat, etc.)
- Email an assignment (recording of yourself with directions) to students and have students email you their work in return.
9. What if I only have synchronous, real-time, tools for implementation?
Some suggestions for implementing if you only have synchronous, real-time, tools are to:
- Teach a live lesson or conduct a live meeting with your students and/or colleagues in tools such as Zoom, Teams, Google Hangouts, Skype, Facetime, etc. Be sure to ensure you have permission to record the session (if you have permission to record students in your face-to-face classroom, you should be ok to record them online, see question below).
- These synchronous sessions are new for most people. Set new expectations and norms at the beginning of each session to allow everyone to participate.
- Read the rubric requirements to ensure you are able to demonstrate and collect the required evidence for the Implement requirement in your live lesson/meeting.
10. Will a video of me practicing the competency in a non-classroom/simulated setting count as evidence?
It’s a great idea to practice a new skill before implementing it. While we certainly encourage practice, your micro-credential should capture evidence of authentic implementation. Read the requirements and rubric carefully, as most will require authentic engagement with students and/or colleagues.
11. Can I modify the micro-credentials to better suit my needs or my current reality?
Platform participants who feel that they are unable to meet the Indicators of one or more micro-credentials they are aiming to earn may complete the BloomBoard Assessment Accommodation Request form. More information can be found here.
12. Can I work on more than one micro-credential at a time (even if I don’t finish it)?
Yes, absolutely.
13. Does my Implementation have to align to my Analysis, Design, and Develop (Model 4 micro-credentials only)?
You may encounter a scenario where you are currently working on Analyze, Design, and Develop, but aren’t sure when you’ll be able to Implement (keep in mind, many micro-credentials are possible to Implement in a virtual setting). You may also be in a scenario where it is no longer possible for you to Implement the lesson or meeting you Developed/Designed.
Rather than create an inauthentic learning experience for you and or your students, you may choose to demonstrate the competency in an Implementation (lesson, meeting, etc.) that is different from the one you initially Developed/Designed. This isn’t always possible, so be sure to look closely at the rubric and requirement language in Implement to ensure it doesn’t make a direct reference to previous requirements (if it does, you will have to adhere to what you originally Developed/Designed or adjust your Analyze and Developed/Designed). Regardless, always provide context for the assessors that helps explain the process you used.
14. Who do I contact for help/questions?
Contact BloomBoard Support at support@bloomboard.com for technical questions about BloomBoard.
Access the BloomBoard Support Site at https://support.bloomboard.com for multiple support articles and tools to support you as you work on your micro-credentials.
Utilize BloomBoard Discussions (Collaborate) at my.bloomboard.com for questions about the program and the micro-credentials, formative feedback on evidence, etc. from fellow program participants and a BloomBoard facilitator.