Micro-credentials can be awarded long before a student reaches college. In fact, they’re a great way for leaders to ensure historically marginalized students earn employable skills and prerequisites. Here’s how.
As the value of a traditional college degree continues to be questioned, hiring managers are looking for reliable methods of measuring a candidate’s work experience. Employers are 72% more likely to hire a candidate who has a professional certificate, according to a 2022 survey by Coursera, an online course provider. Furthermore, 95% of university leaders believe that industry micro-credentials will play a critical role in higher education in the near future.
As for K12, several states are pioneering micro-credential programs to give students a head start on their future careers. Maryland’s Anne Arundel County Public Schools, for instance, offers micro-credentials in teaching, according to an October brief from the nonprofit Digital Promise. Tennessee’s STEM School Chattanooga also awards digital fabrication micro-credentials to its high school students.
Micro-credentials and LER use
In its latest report, Digital Promise offers recommendations for integrating competency-based micro-credentials and learning and employment record technologies (LER). Districts are well-positioned to lead community coalitions that will reward students for acquiring postsecondary and workforce skills, the report declares.
Here are some key steps for district leaders who want to offer micro-credentials:
- Achieve postsecondary education and industry buy-in through partnerships
- Develop robust competency-based assessments for skills recognition
- Adopt a community-based approach in program implementation
- Safeguard student privacy rights and technology access
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The readiness framework also gives district leaders a checklist for adopting the requisite LER technologies. Here are the six indicators:
- Readiness for change
- Equity and inclusion
- Competency-based education
- Institutional or community partnerships
- Student advising and career support
- Technology access and adoption
- Data security, privacy and infrastructure
The report also offers suggestions for starting, practicing and sustaining each indicator.
“The skills-based economy is rapidly and continuously shifting to accommodate the rapid pace of innovation,” Digital Promise’s Senior Director of Credentials Rita Fennelly-Atkinson said in a statement. “Organizations that serve youth are positioned to increase opportunities for learners by adopting competency-based credentialing and recognition, which will allow learners greater access to pathways that will lead to success.”
In addition to the report, Digital Promise has released a video, “Boost K12 Success With Micro-Credentials & LER Tech for Skill Recognition.” We encourage you to explore both resources and consider how micro-credentials can benefit your students.
