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In April 2017, C-A teachers began to actively engage in earning micro-credentials. Micro-credentials are a digital form of certification indicating demonstrated competency in a specific skill or set of skills, such as data literacy, teacher leadership or deeper learning. Each Micro-credential had a corresponding digital badge that is showcased in their individual digital portfolio. Currently instructional staff have over 100 challenges to earn micro-credentials. This library of learning will continue to grow and be aligned to the district's goals and anchor strategies.
C-A instructional staff have earned
6115
6115
digital badges since March 2017
In a February 2016 report titled, " Moving PD from Seat-Time to Demonstrated Competency Using Micro-credentials The essential educators’ guide to implementing personalized, competency-based professional learning" The following benefits were given for teachers who engage in earning micro-credentials/digital badges.
Improve practice. Competency-based approaches to learning have been proven to have a greater impact in knowledge retention and performance than traditional approaches.
Showcase competencies in their craft. By demonstrating proficiency in specific competencies in an evidence-based, targeted, and meaningful way, educators can showcase the skills and Competencies they have developed to current and potential employers. Micro-credentials not only highlight expertise, but also show how an educator demonstrated a particular competency within the context of the classroom.
Receive the recognition they deserve. Micro-credentials that recognize an educator’s competence in discrete skills can spark conversations about mentorship roles and even advances in career ladders. Increasingly, micro-credentials are being accepted towards the acquisition of formal professional development credits.
Build a portable portfolio. Micro-credentials can be shared anywhere, building identity and reputation within learning communities and creating pathways for leadership and mentorship roles. More than just a piece of paper, they create a robust portfolio of educator growth and achievement throughout one’s career.
Spend more time with students and collaborating with peers. Instead of spending time in one-size-fits-all PD trainings or seminars, educators can demonstrate skills and competencies and earn credentials for work they’re already doing with students in the classroom. Alternatively, by utilizing micro-credentials educators can use release time much more strategically to collaborate with colleagues on various problems of practice.
Accommodate a busy schedule. The artifacts educators provide as evidence towards earning a specific micro-credential can be gathered from the work they’re already doing, providing flexibility in where they learn and how they demonstrate learning. Educators can seek and demonstrate professional growth anytime, anywhere.
Staying on top of emerging needs within the profession. Just as the learning requirements for students are continuously changing, new demands and requirements for teaching are constantly emerging. Educators may change schools or classrooms from year to year, requiring new skills or training (e.g., ELL, special education, classroom behavior techniques). Micro-credentials can be built and made available quickly, empowering educators to get up to speed on emerging important topics (like new state standards), as well as the topics they need to be successful.
You can read the entire report published by Getting Smart.
Currently there are over 200 challenges for C-A instructional staff to choose from. Below is a sample of challenges:
- Quizalize
- Quizalize is a student response system (similar to Kahoot, Quizizz, Class Responder, etc.) that really engages students! The teacher wanted ...
- The Writing Strategies Book – Focus/Meaning
- Participants will review Goal Four of The Writing Strategies Book by Jennifer Serravallo, “Focus/Meaning” and implement a strat ...
- Creating A Badge
- Creating a challenge and digital badge for students to earn by demonstrating mastery of an essential learning outcome is a tool ...
- Creating Classroom Digital Writing Portfolios Using SeeSaw
- This is a great app to use to get started with digital portfolios. Create a folder for each student and import photos of student work, video ...
- Formative Assessments & Progress Monitoring
- Formative assessment allows teachers to see exactly what their students know with enough time to adjust instruction in order to meet their n ...
- PBL Design
- The Project Design Rubric uses the Essential Project Design Elements as criteria to evaluate projects. The rubric aligns with B ...
- Guidelines for Student Supervision
- Criteria: Read the guidelines for student supervision at the following link: http://ascip.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Student-Supervisio ...
- Plickers
- Description: Plickers is a powerfully simple tool that lets teachers collect real-time formative assessment data without the need for stud ...
- Improving Instructional Practice through Peer Observation: 3C Engaging Students in Learning
- Participants aiming to earn this badge will: Pick a partner to work with through this process. This person may be anyone in any department, ...
- Improving Instructional Practice through Peer Observation : 3a Communication with Students
- Pick a partner to work with through this process. This person may be anyone in any department, building, or grade-level throughout the dist ...
- Improving Instructional Practice through Peer Observation: 3E Flexibility and Responsiveness
- Participants aiming to earn this badge will: Pick a partner to work with through this process. This person may be anyone in any department, ...
- Improving Instructional Practice through Peer Observation : 3d Using Assessment in Instruction
- Pick a partner to work with through this process. This person may be anyone in any department, building, or grade-level throughout the dist ...
- Google Classroom
- Watch a video about Classroom: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZVQazKeE0A&scrlybrkr Earn Your Badge! Set up a class through Google Classroo ...
- Google Calendar
- Watch video for creating Google Calendar Events: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYNjKfXwTvk&spfreload=10&scrlybrkr 1. Click on the apps but ...
- Kahoot!
- Kahoot is a game-based formative assessment website that allows students to answer questions and compete for high scores. Recently, Kahoot a ...
- The Writing Strategies Book – Your Everything Guide to Developing Skilled Writers
- In this Challenge you will explore in depth The Writing Strategies Book by selecting and implementing 10 strategies within your classroom. ...
- De-escalation Strategies and Techniques
- To complete this challenge you will attend two 3 hour classes which will be given over a period of 2 days. During this time, your instructo ...
- The Writing Strategies Book – Organization & Structure
- Description: Participants will review Goal Five of The Writing Strategies Book by Jennifer Serravallo, “Organization & Structure” and implem ...
- Beginner College Partnership
- Show proof of partnership with a college that is short in duration- field trip, class talk, member of list serve
- Advanced College Partnership
- To complete this challenge staff must show an on going relationship with a college and the changes to curriculum that have occurred due to t ...
- Beginner Business Partnership
- To complete this challenge staff members must show that they have connected work and school by either having professional come into school t ...
- Advanced Business
- To complete this challenge show a long term commitment to work school partnerships- this can be done through- job shadowing or internship ...
- Innovation in Your Classroom/Read blog post from teacher
- Read this blog post by Pa. teacher A.J Juliani. Afterwards, share your thoughts and answer the four questions posed at the end of the artic ...
- Plan a PBL Unit
- Visit Tech Valley HS to work with Sarah Fiess, TVHS school outreach coordinator to plan a PBL unit for fall 2017. or invite her to C-A.
- Collaborative Problem Solving
- Collaborative Problem Solving is assessment and planning tool that identifies challenging behaviors, problems to be solved and lagging ski ....
- Classroom Dojo- Social and Emotional Learning
- Classroom Dojo is a Tier ! intervention that can be utilized in the classroom for social and emotional learning. Description: Classroom Doj ...
- Introduction to The Writing Strategies Book
- Description: Let’s explore The Writing Strategies Book by Jennifer Serravallo through video and text. Criteria: Take some time to look throu ...
- Creating A Collaborative Classroom
- As teachers we often expect students to work together in groups on classroom projects/assignments. Many students need to be taught how to c ...
- The Writing Strategies Book – Composing with pictures.
- Description: By teaching children to compose with pictures, they can be freed up to create texts in any genre and to understand that meaning ...
- Domain 3 Video Experience and Leadership in Peer Collaboration
- Danielson's Framework for Teaching, in Domain 3, focuses on student-centered instructional experiences which serve to engage students as lea .....
- The Writing Strategies Book – Engagement.
- Description: Participants will review Goal Two of The Writing Strategies Book by Jennifer Serravallo, “Engagement” and implement a strategy ...
- The Writing Strategies Book – Generating & Collecting Ideas
- Description: Participants will review Goal Three of The Writing Strategies Book by Jennifer Serravallo, “Generating & Collecting Ideas” and ...
- The Writing Strategies Book – Collaborating with Writing Partners & Clubs
- Description: Participants will review Goal Ten of The Writing Strategies Book by Jennifer Serravallo, “Collaborating with Writing Partners & ...
- Classroom Entrepreneur: Essential Skills
- Share how our school can be even better at preparing students for success "Watch the short Sparks Essential Skills Video at: https://vimeo. ....
- Redefining Learning: Z Space
- Plan a lesson that leverages augmented technology to redefine the learning experience for students. Have 2 or more of your classes(secondary ...
- OPTIMIZE RESOURCES: Reduce Paper Use
- Description: Reducing paper saves money and the environment. Contact IT services to find out your copier usage and utilize 50% of your mon ...
- Google Forms for Progress Monitoring
- Use Google Forms as a way to gather progress monitoring data. . Link to tutorial: https://watchkin.com/bdca3d9b7d?script=WKize
- zSpace Studio
- Models are the heart of zSpace Studio. Learn to find, dissect, measure, take pictures and more within zSpace Studio's sandbox. Identify reso ...
- First Day With Your Class and zSpace
- Here are our recommendations for a first day with your students. We show how to introduce zSpace and begin building their skills to prepare ...
- zSpace Community Creations
- Description: zSpace has a community area where teachers can upload modified or new zSpace activities using zSpace tools. Create or modify ...
- Apple GarageBand for iPad
- GarageBand turns your iPad into a musical instrument and a full-featured recording studio to bring lessons to life in the classroom. Create ...
- Apple iMovie for iPad
- iMovie brings effortless filmmaking into the classroom to create engaging learning opportunities. Capture video of a chemical reaction and s ...
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