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Micro-credentials FAQ and Glossary

What are micro-credentials?

Micro-credentials are a form of competency-based recognition that validates an educator’s professional learning. An educator selects a micro-credential that captures a research-backed, discrete skill and submits evidence to demonstrate their competence in that skill. The educator receives a micro-credential, in the form of a digital badge, if the issuing organization determines that the evidence meets the requirements of the scoring guide and the rubric.

How long does it take to earn a micro-credential?

The amount of time it takes to earn a micro-credential depends on the particular micro-credential and on the educator’s previous experience with the skill addressed in the micro-credential.

How long does assessment take?

Once you submit your micro-credential, it goes through a double-blind assessment process by subject-matter experts. The Delaware Department of Education’s micro-credential assessment process takes approximately 3–4 weeks.

Do I need to attend a training, course, or other learning experience to earn a micro-credential?

No. Micro-credentials do not require educators to participate in specific learning experiences or trainings. Additionally, there is no limit to the amount of time an educator can take to prepare their micro-credential submission. However, educators should be aware of the registration and fiscal deadlines of the Delaware Department of Education.

How much does it cost to earn a Delaware Department of Education micro-credential?

There is no cost associated with creating a Digital Promise Micro-credential Platform account or earning a Delaware Department of Education micro-credential. Note: There are other micro-credentialing issuers who may charge an assessment fee; these are unrelated to Delaware Department of Education micro-credentialing programs.

What can I do with my micro-credentials once I’ve earned them?

Once earned, micro-credentials can be shared through social networks, embedded in websites or learning management systems (LMS), emailed to colleagues, and downloaded as digital badges. Micro-credentials comply with the open badges specification, which means that they are unique to each earner and contain metadata recognized and supported by dozens of platforms across the web.

Can I earn micro-credentials collaboratively with other educators?

Yes, we encourage collaboration. However, your submission should be unique and any written parts should be in your own words. Your student work should reflect your authentic teaching practice. If you co-teach, and collaborate on collecting evidence, it may be the same; however, if you worked with another educator, please make it clear that you collaborated with a colleague in your submission.

Can I reapply for a micro-credential if I did not earn it the first time?

Yes. Please revise your submission based on the feedback from the assessor and resubmit all associated evidence for the micro-credential through the platform.

I was not awarded the micro-credential and would like to resubmit. Does it go to the same assessor?

We strive to make this happen for consistent assessment, but for a number of reasons it may not be possible. The assessor will have given you specific feedback to incorporate in your resubmission in order to achieve success.

Where can I go for help if I have questions about the micro-credential content or rubric?

Please submit a question through the Help Center and Digital Promise will direct your question to the appropriate individual.

When a micro-credential asks me “to annotate” my work, what is the expectation?

The annotations component means that you’ll want to identify where in the work (lesson plan, video, etc.) the element you’re asked to demonstrate is happening. In a video you would call out or list what time stamp is showing when the element occurs. This is to make it easier for the assessor to find that particular element for scoring purposes. Example:

  1. The prompt: Class Instruction: Upload a 10–20-minute annotated video or audio with annotations that capture:
    • clear explanation of the purpose of the lesson
    • opportunities for student engagement – with both the educator and other students.
  2. A possible answer: “At 8:05–8:30 in my video, I am introducing the lesson, answering common questions, and using wait-time to enable students to ask any questions they have about the lesson. From 8:45 to 15:12, I’m moving around the room to show student engagement in the lesson; more specifically, between 8:45 and 9:50 the students are discussing what questions to ask our guest speaker the following week as related to the lesson on authentic questioning.”

What are micro-credential submission best practices?

Before you submit for a micro-credential, ask yourself if you have done all of the following:

  • Read the rubric. It may be helpful to copy the rubric parts into a separate document and type your answers below the rubric element to ensure that you’ve responded to it completely.
  • Create a folder for each micro-credential you are submitting. This way you have one place to put all of your evidence.
  • Have a colleague or coach look over your submission. It helps to have an extra pair of eyes on your submission materials so you feel confident about submitting.
  • Remove all personal information about yourself and your students.
  • Change all settings on all shared documents, websites, and surveys to “anyone with the link.”
  • If you have multiple files as part of your submission, clearly name each file, e.g. “Teacher Reflection” or “Part 2 Evidence.”
  • Try to not go over the word count on questions, but answer the questions.
  • Unless prompted for a longer video, keep the length of video submissions to around 2–3 minutes.
  • Be sure your answers address the prompt.
  • Use universal document types, e.g., PDF, Word, PowerPoint, Google Docs, Google Slides, etc.
  • Minimize attachments by pasting your images into a document and including all parts in one document.

Digital Promise Glossary of Credential Terms

Term Definition
Badge The term “badge” is typically used as shorthand to mean “Digital Badge” or “Micro-credential.” All micro-credentials are awarded as digital badges, but not all digital badges are micro-credentials. Not all micro-credentials are created or awarded by Digital Promise or the Delaware Department of Education.
Competency Each micro-credential recognizes a discrete, research-backed competency. While developing micro-credentials, we consider the competency as the “What” or the “What is the learner demonstrating?” The “competency” is the first component of the micro-credential framework.
Competency- Based Each micro-credential is competency-based; in other words, an educator (or learner) must demonstrate their competence through the submission of evidence, which is assessed by content experts affiliated with the issuing organization.
Digital Credential This term is often used interchangeably with “Digital Badge.” However, the term “credential” is often used to imply alignment with a particular framework or learning outcome or certifying organization (e.g. the Digital Promise Micro-credential Framework).
Evidence Learners must collect and submit evidence before their competence can be assessed. Once the evidence is assessed, the learner will receive either their award or tailored feedback from issuing organizations.
Key Method The key method section of the micro-credential framework contains the means by which an educator demonstrates their competence. Generally, we refer to the key method as the “How” of the micro-credential: “How will the educator demonstrate the competency in question?”
Metadata A set of data that describes and gives information about other data. In this case, when we use the word “metadata” we are generally referring to the data that combines with the badge image to produce a micro-credential.
Method Components The method components section of the micro-credential framework expands on the information given in the Key Method section of the micro-credential. In this section, issuers elaborate on specific strategies for demonstrating competence and foreshadow the evidence the learner must submit to earn the micro-credential.
Micro-credential Micro-credentials are competency-based, on-demand, personalized, and shareable. They empower educators to drive their professional learning and give administrators the tools they need to personalize learning for educators and meet their broader goals. Micro-credentials are awarded as digital badges containing secure metadata.
On-Demand Micro-credentials offered by the Digital Promise Micro-credential Platform are always available and applications can be submitted whenever is convenient for learners.
Open Badges Standard (OBS) The OBS is a specification of the badge data that makes it an open and interoperable badge.
Personalized Each micro-credential award contains metadata aligning with the learner’s unique application, date of submission, etc.
Portable Micro-credentials contain structured data; therefore, any system designed to recognize this (open source) data structure can store and display micro-credential data. Micro-credentials can also be verified by any online source, as the code associated with performing that task is also open source.
Research Each Digital Promise and Delaware created micro-credential is research-backed. The Research section of the micro-credential framework identifies research substantiating the competency and the key methodology.
Resources Each Digital Promise micro-credential contains a Resources section, which empowers learners by providing them with a set of curated resources to help them get started.
Shareable Each awarded micro-credential can be shared digitally. The Digital Promise Micro-credential Platform provides learners with the ability to share their micro-credential through social networks, including LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook. Additionally, learners may share their awarded micro-credentials via direct email. If shared this way, learners will be given the option to share their award with or without the evidence and/or feedback they received. Finally, any micro-credentials shared through email will produce a sharable link, which expires after 24 hours (for additional security) and can be shared again at any time.
The Micro-credential Framework Every micro-credential developed by Digital Promise and its partner organizations (content experts) aligns with the Digital Promise Micro-credential Framework©. The Micro-credential Framework consists of several sections: Competency, Key Method, Method Components, Research and Resources, and Evidence (submission guidelines and evaluation criteria).
Verifiable Each micro-credential awarded through the Digital Promise Micro-credential Platform can be verified natively through the platform or any other system leveraging the open-source code associated with verifying awards.