Micro Credentials Badges

Staff training on verification and the award of digital badges (micro credentials) for confirmation of students skills.
Participants will be trained to identify and assess soft skills as the student outcomes and to deliver formative assessment.

Within the Erasmus+ funded project "e-Close – A model for Interactive (A)Synchronous Learning in Online STEM Education" further education in the field of (online) teaching is offered for teachers. Four universities work together on the project (TU Lodz in Poland, the University of Alcala in Spain, and the University of Aveiro in Portugal) and the workshop takes place at one partner institution. It will be a five-day workshop (each day 3-5 hours) taking place in January in Lodz (Poland) and the business trip will be funded via the project. More information about the project can be found on www.eclose.eu

Main goal:

The Mail Goal of the microcredentials training is to empower academic teachers, PhD students, administrative staff of the university with knowledge and skills in the field of new trends in creating and awarding qualifications for Lifelong learners.

Learning Outcomes:

After completing the training the participant will be able to:
1. Distinguish between different types of qualifications
2. Debate on new trends in creating and awarding qualifications for Lifelong learners
3. Design microcredentials in terms of Los, performance indicators, teaching and learning strategies, verification methods.
4. Adapt recognition mechanisms to the local qualification system.
5. Design digital badges on the example of Open badge Factory App.
6. Elaborate the awarding process for different types of microcredentials and digital badges.
7. Discuss the key elements of the quality assurance system for microcredentials.

General content (Main topics include)

Microcredentials- Short background
Getting the terminology right
Key features of microcredentials- how do microcredentials work?
The pros and cons of microcredentials
The key components of microcredentails design
Recognition mechanisims for microcredentials
Digital badges….
Microcredentials in practice – awarding processes for
different types of microqualifications.
QA systems for microcredentials

Who should attend?

Academic teachers, preferably already advanced in innovative didactic tools and methods, teaching STEM courses (but also others). The representatives of students councils and organizations will take part in the meeting to be able to express their opinion on the proposed methods and tools.

Training assessment:

Participants will be required to design their own microcredential and digital badge. On successful completion, they will be presented with a certificate of achievement.

Course short timetable:

Day 1
Introduction to Microcredentials
New trends in HE and qualifications for Lifelong learners

Day 2
The key components of Microcredentials design – first experiences in the field

Day 3
Digital badges and Open Badge Factory App.

Day 4
Awarding and recognition mechanisms for micro credentials and digital badges

Day 5
Debate on QA systems features for microcredentials and digital badges
Closing remarks