Credentialed Learning
This publication guides readers through the questions of why credential, what to credential, how to credential and who should credential.
How do we describe valuable capabilities around core, technical, and transferable competencies that increase opportunity for every learner?
What do the terms badge, credential and competency mean within the scope of this publication?
The current education system dabbles in credentialing – what would it mean to lean in even further?
How would a fully-credentialed system empower learners of all ages and experience levels?
What if we were able to get more specific with proficiency and mastery?
What would a record that documented skills acquired over a full lifetime mean for learners?
What would a clearer connection between secondary-level learning and what is expected and needed in the workplace and/or higher education look like?
Most employers (and higher ed institutions) report that newly hired employees are not prepared with the skills required in the workplace. What should we credential?
What are core skills and how might they be decided upon within a school community and beyond?
Who is deciding which skills are transferable? What are some examples of transferable skills?
How might we take skill validation the next step further?
How would I get started as an educator, administrator, policy maker and/or leader?
How are credentials a two-sided marketplace?
How do different regions and communities articulate skills worth credentialing?
How do you embed credentialing into high-quality learning experiences?
Who should be in charge of validating a credential?
What are the core components of a badge?
What is the system of checks and balances that certifies credentials?
How do we calibrate a credential to the need in the world (i.e. workforce opportunity, community need, or otherwise)?
Who should have the authority to award credit for experiences?
Which outside-of-school providers have been able to credential learning experiences?
What does it look like for a school to align experiences to credentials and badges?
Who is pioneering the credentialing landscape in higher education and the military?
Credentialing has huge potential in education, but what about in the workforce?
Which outside organizations and providers are entering the credentialing marketplace?
As with any major disruption, credentials have numerous challenges and opportunities to going to scale.
How should we measure innovation?
From scale, to trust, to regulation – what are the challenges facing the spread of credentials?
What are the available opportunities in each section?
When learning is credentialed, every individual has a better opportunity to succeed academically, find a learning pathway and match with education and employment opportunities that fit their skill set
Throughout this report, we mentioned tons of exemplars and supporting organizations.
We couldn’t have done this without the support of numerous papers, insights and contributions from others in the field.
We’d love to hear your feedback. What did you think of this resource?
This publication guides readers through the questions of why credential, what to credential, how to credential and who should credential.
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