In the past we have focused a few articles on micro-credentials, but one of the questions is how these are recognised and achievements recorded. One approach is the use of digital badges.
Digital badges are an alternative to the formal certificates and diplomas that we are used to in VET. VETTrak refers to several advantages with this digital approach.
These include being able to:
“break learning recognition down into smaller parcels or micro-credentials. With recognition delivered along the learning journey, students are more likely to be motivated through ‘gamification’ to continue with their course, leading to higher overall completion rates.”
In addition, and according to an article published in readytech:
“Digital credentials recognise a learner’s achieved skills and knowledge in the form of a digital badge. Issued by an education provider – usually with the assistance of a digital credentials partner or credentialing engine – they incorporate a visual representation of a skill or achievement that can be easily recognised and acted on by employers. They also include added advantages like qualification verification via blockchain technology, the ability for learners to share their badge online using professional and social networks and the ability to add deeper descriptions and evidence (metadata) of what a learner has accomplished. They can be used to certify new learning or recognise prior learning or competencies.”
The article in VETTrak maintains that, for employers, such an approach may be more relatable for them, and for VET providers it may provide a more modern and relevant branding approach which enables them “to expand their horizons by credentialing complementary packets of knowledge and skills that are in demand outside of existing qualification frameworks.” Thus, “progressive educators can design learning and create content aligned to employers’ needs to unlock new business growth potential.”
A digital badge also has the potential advantage of creating “learning pathways that encompass the full spectrum of ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ skills beyond the finish line of traditional certificates or qualifications.” This helps to position educators “as a true partner in an individual’s lifelong learning journey [and] enable educators to more easily offer continuous education beyond completion.” In addition, this approach can be quicker to market than traditional approaches to qualification development.
The article published by readytech points to a growing shift to micro-credentials. This approach, especially in a digital form, may give providers:
“the ability to recognise more granular skills and assessed knowledge with digital badges, they are a 21st Century form of certification that incorporates a lot of thinking that goes into a successful micro-credentials strategy.”
Think of it like the badges you or your learners might have got in the scouts or girl guides, albeit in a digital form.
Can digital credentials boost the move to micro-credentials?
The readytech article maintains that there are six ways this can happen. These are:
- By supercharging ongoing initiatives in employer collaboration through a co-design process to enhance relationships to foster employability and job outcomes.
- Through using social networks to market education providers to the learners they want to attract.
- By creating new growth opportunities and higher speed-to-market by designing bite-sized micro-credentials that meet the skills needs of employers.
- By unlocking the value of existing milestones – and past students – so that “VET providers can digitise existing learning milestones that exist within full qualifications by issuing digital credentials, rather than starting micro-credentials from scratch. Even better, providers can issue badges to past students who have already completed qualifications or units of competency.”
- By encouraging student completion rates for full qualifications. This is “particularly relevant for micro-credentials that are part of longer qualification track, digital credentials allow VET providers to break recognition down into smaller parcels that are delivered to students earlier in the learning journey”, and finally
- By making issued credentials immediately verifiable by employers. Micro-credentials may not be fully understood by employers and they need to be trusted. “Digital credentials ensure micro-credentials can be verified online with the click of a button – with the option for additional blockchain security – rather than by calling the education provider.”
And then, of course, the ways that a provider’s student management system “can bring the management of achieved digital credentials throughout the student’s journey together with the management of the rest of a student’s record.” That’s worth thinking about too!
