Yavapai College Official Micro-Credentials by Christina Goldsmith Image by pikisuperstar on Freepik Offer Micro-Credentials and Digital Badges Yavapai College’s Micro-Credentials and Digital Badging initiative provides …

 by Christina Goldsmith

Image by pikisuperstar on Freepik

Offer Micro-Credentials and Digital Badges

Yavapai College’s Micro-Credentials and Digital Badging initiative provides faculty and staff with an opportunity to offer learners - including YC students, community members, faculty, and staff -  verifiable skills that enhance their academic and professional growth. By incorporating these credentials into various learning opportunities, you can help learners gain valuable competencies that employers recognize and trust.

What Are Micro-Credentials?

Micro-Credentials recognize achievement in a specific skill or knowledge area. Unlike traditional degrees or certifications, they are typically earned through short courses, workshops, or training programs and often involve completing assessments, projects, or practical applications. Micro-Credentials can be used to support professional development, skill enhancement, or career advancement, offering a structured way to validate and showcase learning.

Benefits of Offering Micro-Credentials:

• Provides learners with industry-relevant, targeted skill development
• Enhances career opportunities and workforce readiness
• Recognizes and validates learning in a structured and measurable way
• Supports flexible learning pathways for learners at various stages of their academics and careers
• Offers a digital, shareable credential that increases student engagement and motivation

What Are Digital Badges?

Digital Badges serve as a visual representation of a Micro-Credential, containing detailed information about the skills acquired, the issuing organization, and the criteria met. These badges are issued through Canvas Credentials and can be shared on professional platforms like LinkedIn, embedded in resumes, or included in email signatures to demonstrate verified competencies.

View Examples of Existing Yavapai College Micro-Credentials and Digital Badges

Yavapai College Badges - All Yavapai College badges can be found here.

Micro-Credentials Development Journey:

1. Identify Skills to Highlight: Determine which specific skills or knowledge areas align with your course or other learning opportunity.
2. Identify the Desired Earning Criteria: Earning criteria should be listed as measurable learning objectives that use action verbs appropriate to the identified achievement level. For help writing measurable criteria as learning objectives, view Bloom's Taxonomy Action Verbs.
3. Review Existing Micro-Credentials: Review existing Micro-Credentials on the Yavapai College Badges page to see if any pre-existing Digital Badges meet your needs.
4. Determine Assessments: Decide on assignments, projects, or exams that demonstrate competency in the chosen skill and achievement of the earning criteria.
5. Identify the Credential Classification: Use the Yavapai College Micro-Credential Taxonomy document to determine the correct Credential Classification based on the earning criteria and assessment. 
6. Gather the Required Information: View the PDF of the Micro-Credential Proposal form to ensure that you have all of the necessary information for the proposal. If you need assistance gathering any information, please contact Christina Goldsmith (see TeLS Staff contact information). Proposals will be reviewed using the Proposal Rubric (under development). 
7. Complete the Micro-Credential Proposal Form: Once you complete the Google Form (see "Submit a Proposal" link below), a member of the Micro-Credential team will contact you within 10 business days. You will work with the Micro-Credentialing team to create a Digital Badge that represents learners' achievements. 
8. Issue Digital Badges: Once your Micro-Credential proposal is approved, work with the Micro-Credentialing team to ensure badges are issued correctly through Canvas Credentials. Set up the awarding process within your course or program, ensuring that students who meet the earning criteria receive their Digital Badges promptly.
9. Encourage Students to Share Their Badges: Help learners understand how to claim and showcase their Digital Badges to potential employers.

Note: If the Micro-Credential will be awarded as part of an academic course or program, then it must be part of an existing course or program. If a new course or program is being developed, then the curriculum must be completely approved before the Micro-Credential committee will consider the request.