White Paper: How Can Micro-credentials Drive Teacher Learning and Leadership?

April 26, 2016   |   By Alicia Barnes

[Most current] professional development (PD) falls through because it doesn’t treat the adult like an adult — specifically, we need to entrust the responsibility of PD to adults...Micro-credentials really give every person that challenge...I think it’s a really beautiful thing when you let someone ask themselves, ‘What do I really want to get better at?’”

 -- Micro-credential Pilot Teacher

Micro-credentials are a hot topic for K-12 educators. With studies* concluding that much traditional professional development is ineffective, education stakeholders (see recent articles in Education Week and Education Dive) are exploring whether these bite-sized proofs of competence can reinvigorate what’s commonly seen as a broken PD system.

Micro-credentials offer competency-based recognition for the skills educators gain throughout their careers. They are personalized, on-demand, shareable, and they offer a unique opportunity to acknowledge the learning, both formal and informal, that we know teachers are pursuing. The hope is that a shift to a competency-based model of professional development, supported by micro-credentials, can make learning more engaging and relevant for teachers—positively impacting educator effectiveness, and ultimately, student performance.

Innovative school districts like Kettle Moraine in Wisconsin are already transforming their professional learning supports and rewarding their educators for earning micro-credentials. But, what are the practical realities and opportunities for other districts and states to adopt a competency-based PD model?

A new white paper from our friends at the Center for Teaching Quality and Digital Promise explores how American schools and systems are currently addressing gaps in professional learning and how recent developments have set the stage for a major transformation.

The report addresses:

Download the free paper to learn how the time is ripe to shift conversations about professional development away from seat time and credit hours and towards proof of competence with micro-credentials.

In partnership with Digital Promise, BloomBoard offers more than 120 micro-credentials recognizing a wide range of professional competencies for educators, such as disaggregating data, classroom management, and effective leadership—and any educator can apply.

Explore All Micro-credentials

*Darling-Hammond, L., Chung Wei, R., Andree, A., & Richardson, N. (2009). Professional Learning in the Learning Profession: A Status Report on Teacher Development in the United States and Abroad. Oxford, OH: National Staff Development Council.

Topics: News

   

Subscribe to Email Updates: