Friday, March 15, 2024

ASU introduces trailblazing 'stackable microcredentials' pilot - Braveman Mpafa, ASU

Arizona State University's Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering is at the forefront of transforming engineering and technology education through "stackable microcredentials." These microcredentials address the urgent demand for adaptable upskilling and reskilling across engineering and technology fields, reflecting the dynamic nature of today's workforce requirements. According to the World Economic Forum, in an era where job skills expire in less than five years, and technical expertise deteriorates even faster, stackable microcredentials offer a timely remedy. The World Economic Forum’s 2020 Future of Jobs Report highlights that, by 2025, half of the global workforce will require reskilling, emphasizing the urgent necessity for ongoing learning and skill augmentation. 

https://news.asu.edu/20240229-science-and-technology-asu-introduces-trailblazing-stackable-microcredentials-pilot

Thursday, March 14, 2024

I Didn’t Know My Union Did This! - NEA Today

During most of her 20 years as an instructional assistant in Oregon, Stacey Zoon received very little professional development. “We get basic trainings at school three or four times a year, like a video on mandatory reporting or a session about dealing with behavior, and that’s it,” she says. But then she was introduced to NEA’s micro-credentials for education support professionals (ESPs). “NEA micro credentials are so much more in depth and cover things you’re actually going to use as an educator,” Zoon, who now works as a library media assistant, says.  

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

New learning website launched for workers in Wales - UNTRO

A new website has been launched by The Open University in Wales and Wales TUC to support more people into lifelong learning. The online platform, Union Learning Wales, gives information on OU degrees and free courses, as well as funding available for all workers in Wales. The site contains descriptions of OU courses which are popular with people looking to upskill or change their career. These include undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, as well as Access courses which can help people take a step into higher education for the first time.

Tuesday, March 12, 2024

First Aviation Maintenance Students Graduate - KSAL

The pre-apprenticeship course hosted by partners at the Salina Regional Airport graduated its first ever class of aviation maintenance students Thursday evening. The Aviation Innovation & Maintenance (AIM) Center of Excellence at SLN held an industry day and graduation ceremony for its first cohort of students and faculty.  The evening included a networking reception as well as a student showcase. Students also received their graduation certificates and micro-credentials from the faculty along with Ray Seif, who is the Director of Aviation of the Kansas Department of Transportation. “It’s important to get students into aviation maintenance careers.” said Seif.  “They are very well paying and high in demand, and I’m happy to support such an amazing program”

Monday, March 11, 2024

Micro-Credentials Are Poised to Become a Mainstream Rapid Education and Training Solution in Canada - ICTC/CTIC

Micro-credential programs could become more relevant, timely, and effective in meeting current and future Canadian digital economy workforce needs, provided they align with best practices of standardized definitions, proof of competencies, and flexible program delivery. While employers still value formal education, the shift toward “skills first” hiring practices and increasing emphasis on relevant experience and demonstrable aptitude in competencies or skills is gaining momentum.   Micro-credentials are still relatively new in Canada, and there is a degree of confusion evident among employers, learners, and micro-credential providers as to what they entail and how best to design them for the benefit of all stakeholders.    

Sunday, March 10, 2024

Aurora Institute Releases New Case Study on ExcEL Leadership Academy Micro-credential Pathway Adoption - Yahoo! Finance

Today, the Aurora Institute, a national nonprofit organization focused on education innovation, released a new case study examining a micro-credential program developed by UCLA's ExcEL Leadership Academy, which has been approved for ESOL teacher certification in Rhode Island. The program offers a progression of twelve micro-credentials focused on the skills and competencies educators need to serve multilingual learners (MLLs) effectively. Additionally, the case study offers recommendations for other states that hope to offer their educators high-quality competency-based pathways to certification and/or professional growth.






Saturday, March 9, 2024

ASU introduces trailblazing 'stackable microcredentials' pilot - Braveman Mpafa, ASU

Arizona State University's Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering is at the forefront of transforming engineering and technology education through "stackable microcredentials." These microcredentials address the urgent demand for adaptable upskilling and reskilling across engineering and technology fields, reflecting the dynamic nature of today's workforce requirements. According to the World Economic Forum, in an era where job skills expire in less than five years, and technical expertise deteriorates even faster, stackable microcredentials offer a timely remedy. The World Economic Forum’s 2020 Future of Jobs Report highlights that, by 2025, half of the global workforce will require reskilling, emphasizing the urgent necessity for ongoing learning and skill augmentation.

Friday, March 8, 2024

Searca, international universities address food security, climate change - Leander C. Domingo, Manila Times

The Philippine government-hosted Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (Searca) collaborated with international universities for the European Commission Erasmus+ Capacity Building on Postgraduate Micro-Credentials for Food Security and Climate Change. Searca Director Glenn Gregorio called the project a concrete example of education's evolving landscape as the world enters an era of globalization, giving educators and learners inclusivity and flexibility.

Thursday, March 7, 2024

Law Micro-credentials - UCD Sutherland School of Law, Dublin

The UCD Sutherland School of Law, the leading centre for legal education and research in Ireland, combines engaging undergraduate and graduate level courses, internationally recognised research, and word-class educational facilities. Since its establishment in 1911, the school has offered high-quality law programs promoting critical understanding and interdisciplinary knowledge. It collaborates with law firms, government departments, and NGOs to align programs with sectoral needs.

Wednesday, March 6, 2024

eCampusOntario launches AI-enabled Micro-Credential Portal tool to Help Learners Address Skills Gaps - CNW Group

Today at the 2024 Micro-Credential Forum eCampusOntario launched the proof of principle for a new AI-enabled tool designed to help learners address skills gaps with personalized educational pathway recommendations. SkillsFinder.ai uses a custom GPT powered by OpenAI to help learners to better understand their skills gaps and find a micro-credential to fill these gaps. Attendees of the Forum were able to interact with the new skillsfinder tool as part of testing the capabilities of generative AI and supporting upskilling and reskilling.

Tuesday, March 5, 2024

Micro-credentials - University at Buffalo

Micro-credentials allow you to meet your personalized learning needs by gaining knowledge and skills in areas that are relevant to your academic or professional goals. They equip you with digital badges that showcase your achievements and all it took to get there. When you complete a micro-credential program you will earn a digital badge, or a series of digital badges. A digital badge is an icon, but it is not a static image in that is click-able, and houses information, including the issuing institution, the date earned, the criteria required to earn the badge, and the evidence that shows that you have met the required criteria. Digital badges are dynamic credentials that you own, so you can decide how you want to use them. Digital badges can be put on social media sites, added as a link on your digital résumé, embedded in your e-portfolio, and more.


Monday, March 4, 2024

IGI Global Halts Softcover Production, Embraces Digital Education Evolution - Nasiru Eneji Abdulrasheed, BNN

IGI Global's pivot towards digital education signifies a transformative shift in educational publishing. Discover the implications of their decision to focus on innovative learning methods through their latest publication on micro-learning and micro-credentials. In a remarkable pivot towards digital and innovative educational practices, IGI Global has announced the cessation of softcover book production. This strategic move underscores a broader industry trend towards embracing digital mediums and innovative learning methodologies. The decision is highlighted in their latest publication, 'Global Perspectives on Micro-Learning and Micro-Credentials in Higher Education,' which delves into the forefront of education technology, including chatbots, gamification, and hybrid learning models.




Sunday, March 3, 2024

Generative AI upskilling can help future-proof your company - Clint Boulton, CIO

More certain is that genAI’s transformative function—automating content creation—will alter how people work.  The implications to changes for knowledge workflows are staggering. Enterprises will use personalized technology skills development to drive $1 trillion in productivity gains by 2026, according to IDC research.1 This productivity bump won’t come courtesy of magic pixie dust. Organizations must educate staff on how to incorporate genAI into their daily workflows. Education starts with prompt engineering, the art and science of framing prompts that steer Large Language Models (LLMs) towards desired outputs. Eighty-seven percent of IT leaders Dell surveyed2 said they would like prompt engineering training for themselves, their teams, or both. 

Saturday, March 2, 2024

Employers don’t practice what they preach on skills-based hiring, report finds - Carolyn Crist, Higher Ed Dive

Skills-based hiring appears to be lagging behind well-meaning ambitions, with most companies not yet making changes to drop degree requirements or increase their share of workers without degrees, according to a Feb. 14 report from The Burning Glass Institute and Harvard Business School. Among companies that announced policy changes, about 45% appeared to make a change in name only and had no meaningful difference in hiring behavior, even after removing degree requirements from their postings.

Friday, March 1, 2024

JobReady by LearningMate Partners with Legacy Preparatory Charter Academy to Provide Industry Certification Coursework - IT News Online

"JobReady is providing our scholars an opportunity to become marketable upon graduation from high school. In addition, they earn industry certifications in high-need areas that provide them with a salary far above minimum wage. Many of our students are the first generation to attend college, and these marketable skills make it possible for them to have financial support while attending college," said Staci Weaver, Superintendent at Legacy Preparatory Charter Academy. About Legacy Prep Charter Academy. Legacy Preparatory Charter Academy seeks to facilitate educational experiences through teaching that engages, a culture that empowers, and technology that enables scholars to be college, career, and military-ready, who produce impactful outcomes. We develop and inspire innovative, critical-thinking scholars who influence our global society.

Thursday, February 29, 2024

Online Learning in Medical Student Clerkship: A Survey of Student Perceptions and Future Directions - Rina Patel, et al; Cureus

The authors administered an online survey to clerkship students at the Cumming School of Medicine at the University of Calgary, Canada in spring 2022. The survey consisted of primarily Likert-style questions to explore the perceived effectiveness of various online learning strategies. Results are reported as the proportion selecting “quite effective” or “extremely effective.” The authors administered an online survey to clerkship students at the Cumming School of Medicine at the University of Calgary, Canada in spring 2022. The survey consisted of primarily Likert-style questions to explore the perceived effectiveness of various online learning strategies. Results are reported as the proportion selecting “quite effective” or “extremely effective.”

Wednesday, February 28, 2024

A majority of workers are desperate to upskill, but Gen Z is more likely to head back to the classroom - BYEMMA BURLEIGH, Fortune

Reskilling has become a major obsession over the past few months, as AI upends traditional work models, and employees look for ways to prepare for the future. A majority of U.S. workers plan to upskill this year, but Gen Z is taking it one step further—they’re more likely than other generations to actually step back into the classroom to better themselves. About 41% of the Gen Z workforce plans to attend physical classes to learn new skills, a higher percentage than both Gen X and baby boomers, according to LinkedIn’s latest Workforce Confidence survey.  

Tuesday, February 27, 2024

If you want to know more about a low-carbon economy, you can go to school and its free - Keira Miller, CJWW

Canadians looking to learn more about biomass and the transition to a low-carbon economy can do so, for free, through Saskatchewan Polytechnic. Ann Reinhart with Sask. Polytechnic says the institute has partnered with Quick Train Canada to provide four, free, online micro-credentials. “In the biomass sector, it’s preparing for that clean energy sector for the future. Here, there’re those four free micro-credentials that are all focused on biomass. There is biomass production, handling, storage, and supply chain distribution,” she explains. They each take about 15 hours to complete and are perfect for those who have a busy lifestyle, but still love to learn.

Monday, February 26, 2024

College of New Caledonia seeks input on food security - Yahoo!

“Everyone needs to eat. In a world facing climate change and growing food insecurity, we need to adapt and be part of the solution to meet that critical need. This research study is one of the ways CNC is working with partners to better understand a community need so we can contribute to solutions,” said Dr. Chad Thompson, CNC’s academic vice president. Other goals of the study are to understand residents' view on local food culture, provide a one-day local crop cultivation workshop at CNC's campus, and use the findings to inform future coursework and micro-credentials at the college. The college also intends to reach to local community food partners to involve them with the study and workshop.

Sunday, February 25, 2024

The HBCU Executive Leadership Institute Announces New Investment from Chan Zuckerberg Initiative - Yahoo! Finance

Transformational $1.2 million grant to help expand HBCU ELI's curriculum, which offers micro-credentials and prepares executives to assume leadership positions in higher education. The grant includes funding to expand ELI's curriculum, which offers micro-credentials and prepares executives to assume leadership positions in higher education. HBCU ELI stands as a pioneering initiative, committed to nurturing and empowering the next generation of leaders at over 100 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative was a founding sponsor of the ELI program when it first launched in 2021. The program identifies and develops the most qualified candidates to fill vital HBCU presidencies and other executive leadership positions. To date, ELI has convened a community of 85 Fellows, comprised of professionals representing both public and private sectors. Each participated in ELI's unique professional development program, which includes 13 core competencies.

Saturday, February 24, 2024

Parents and Educators Are Somewhat Aware of Non-Degree Pathways for Students, But Many Want to Learn More - Arrman Kyaw, Diverse Education

Less than a third of parents surveyed (28%) said that they would be disappointed if their child did not pursue college after high school, according to a new report commissioned by American Student Assistance (ASA) and Jobs for the Future (JFF). "Beyond Degrees" focuses on investigating people’s views and ideas of non-degree pathways, defined in this context as “non-degree-bearing education-to-career options,” such as apprenticeships, bootcamps, industry certifications, certificate programs, and occupation licenses. Though some of these pathways can ultimately add up to degrees, it is not a requirement for pathways to do so.