Micro-credentials are quickly emerging as a response to the urgent need to reskill and upskill many who find their future disrupted by COVID-19. In Ontario alone, 1,837 micro-credentials have been developed and made available to Ontarians, including 266 micro-credential programs. Similar developments are taking place all over the world.
But what impact will these have on the “core” work of our colleges and universities – the teaching and awarding of certificates, diplomas and degrees, and the completion of apprenticeships.
- Will the development of modular, stackable micro-credentials which are able to be articulated into degrees and diplomas – change the ways we design, deploy and assess long-form learning?
- What implications will these credentials have for the practice of assessment and the designing of learning outcomes?
Key Takeaways
As a result of this interactive webinar, participants will:
- Develop an understanding of the challenge posed by micro-credentials to the design and development of certificate, diploma and degree programs of study.
- Understand the link between standards-based assessment and more traditional approaches to assessment used in longer-form learning.
- Explore the design and development implications of stackable micro-credentials for diplomas and degrees.
Participants will also learn how to:
- See micro-credentials as outcomes-based distinct in their own right, not just “bits” fragmented from longer courses.
- Relate micro-credentials to a larger competency and skills map for longer programs of study.
- Connect micro-credentials to qualifications frameworks. Build stronger, more comprehensive approaches to assessment of competence and capabilities for all courses, no matter how short or long they may be.
- Understand the relationship between each micro-credential and the program they are intended to fit into.
