This fall, I participated in professional development (PD) provided by Hope Street Group and Learning Forward on “Standards for PD.”The work ties neatly with my current role as a Teacher on Special Assignment, as I’m often tasked with providing PD to my colleagues. During this experience, I was introduced to the Designing and Facilitating High Quality Professional Learning micro-credential stack. By submitting for these micro-credentials, I was able to apply my knowledge from training in my practice and then reflect on the process and growth I made professionally. Ultimately, these micro-credentials recognized my time and commitment toward action-oriented professional learning for educators in my district and the students they support.
One thing I found helpful as I submitted for my micro-credentials was the adaptable process. The demonstration of learning can occur in a variety of ways. The two I earned – Apply the Attributes of Standards-Based Professional Learning and Evaluate the Impact of Professional Learning – provided valuable resources and tools I could access before, during, and after my work.
In the case of my micro-credentials, I was asked to plan PD with specific goals in mind. To demonstrate this competence, I needed to supply evidence that showed how this new learning played out in action. The tasks were things I normally do in my daily job, but through the micro-credential, I was able to enhance them with intentional planning and thoughtful reflection.
I believe micro-credentials offer tremendous value to educators. Through micro-credentials, educators are given recognition for the daily work they are already doing while also being pushed to authentically reflect on that work in practice. The personalization afforded by micro-credentials, along with their direct application to classroom teaching, creates opportunities for powerful educator professional learning.
Learn more about earning the Designing and Facilitating High Quality Professional Learning micro-credentials here.
