Educational Technology News

"Micro-credentials are gaining ground as a form of professional learning for educators. Interest in micro-credentials continues to increase as more schools, districts, and states launch pilots to learn more about successful micro-credential implementation. Digital Promise has fielded a high volume of questions about how micro-credentials are being adopted, recognized, and valued across the education landscape."

As they garner more attention for their role in representing skills and knowledge, more states are pledging to ensure transparent data around credentials.

Employer demand for new hires with skills like critical thinking has pushed colleges to find ways to show that students have those abilities.

"The rigid nature of traditional degree programs is a deterrent to working learners who may not have the time and resources to pursue a 120-credit degree."

States are improving their data collection practices around non-degree credential attainment, and many are making progress.

"Digital credentialing and microcredentialing are two advances, driven by technology, pushing a paradigm shift in higher education and the labor market that recognizes lifelong learning as the new normal."

Many colleges these days are experimenting with short-form online degrees to try to reach new audiences and offer new options, often at a lower cost

An argument for using badges in makerspaces to recognize the skills students gain outside the traditional curriculum.

There are several terms you should know. Credentialing. Micro-Credentialing. But the one you should get very familiar with is Open Badges.

"Drew Perkins talks with Wayne Skipper, CEO and Founder of Concentric Sky about open badging, micro-credentialing and education and learning."

A new report delves into the characteristics surrounding high-quality non-degree credentials--learn about the components of a complete program.

"Over the last several years, the number of universities, educational platforms and other institutions who have gotten into digital credentialing has grown.  Digital credentialing may appear to be confusing at first glance. What is a digital badge? Is it different from a digital credential? How do institutions issue digital credentials? Let ́s first take a look at some of the basic terms related to digital credentialing."

"As credentialing—and the data embedded within credentials—continues to improve, their use for students and employers will grow exponentially."

"Digital badges add great value for employers, students and institutions alike but it’s critical for colleges and universities to more quickly recognize and adopt the delivery of these microcredentials to keep pace with labor market needs."

"If a student masters a subject such as English or Chemistry, then professors give them letter-grades for their transcripts indicating their level of mastery. But students learn much more than that at college, and some higher ed leaders are looking for ways to measure the other, softer skills student pick up while on campus.

But efforts to issue “badges,” or lightweight credentials for things like leadership and resilience, come with plenty of challenges, including convincing employers to take them seriously."

"The American Council on Education and Credly have announced the intention to create a digital "working transcript." Funded by a $1.5 million grant from the Lumina Foundation, the initiative will build a process for recording the outcomes of training programs as discrete competencies, which will be usable as portable, digital, verified credentials."

Increased federal support of high-quality occupational credentialing opportunities could be an alternative to a "free" four-year degree, a new report says.

"This ultimate beginner's guide to badges, provides answers to the what, how, when, and why of digital badging."