Micro-credential Professional Learning Communities
What's a Micro-credential?
A micro-credential is a short, competency-based recognition that allows an educator to demonstrate mastery in a particular area, such as classroom management, literacy, creating a safe learning environment for LGBTQ students or education policymaking. Our micro-credentials are grounded in research and best practice and designed to be:
- Personalized: You can create your own learning journey, based on your interests and career goals; gaps in your skills; and the specific needs of your students, school, and district.
- Flexible: You can study when it’s convenient for you, alone or with your peers.
- Performance-based: Unlike “sit-and-get” certifications, NEA micro-credentials are awarded based on demonstrated mastery of the subject matter, not just for showing up.
Learn more about micro-credentials in this short video featuring SDEA members and staff.
Why Join a Professional Learning Community?
While you can choose to learn on your own, research indicates that the likelihood of completing a micro-credential in a timely manner is much, much higher if you join a learning community and support each other through the process.
The process is rigorous, so working with a group can help you earn your micro-credential sooner. Follow these tips to avoid the need for resubmission:
- Choose your micro-credential wisely
- Study guidelines and scoring rubrics carefully
- Answer all prompts; provide required evidence
- Take advantage of your support system
What's the Process?
Our professional learning communities will meet online for an hour once a week over the course of a month. The first meeting will be organizational and educational on the process. Subsequent meetings will be more like "office hours" so that we can provide support to one another, report in, seek and offer advice to and from one another, etc.
Select a skill you have developed or would like to develop at nea.certificationbank.com/southdakota, and download or view the micro-credential on nea.certificationbank.com. Read the micro-credential carefully to familiarize yourself with the resources, submission guidelines, and evaluation criteria. If you choose to print the micro-credential you may also want to view it digitally in order to access the clickable links in the research and resource sections.
Collect the required evidence demonstrating your competence in the selected area. For most micro-credentials, you will be required to collect evidence from real experiences in your classroom or worksite. During the Covid 19 Pandemic, we have lists of micro-credentials which can be completed even during distance learning and quarantines. Each micro-credential requires different kinds of work to demonstrate your mastery. For example you may need to write a lesson plan, videotape a meeting, or collect data to analyze. It typically takes about 15 hours to complete the requirements to earn a micro-credential.
Registering for this PLC does NOT conclude the full process. In our first PLC session, we will also show you how to register for your micro-credential at nea.certificationbank.com/southdakota and how to register for grad credit at Augustana University.
- Grade(s): Pre-K | Elementary K-5 | Secondary 6-12
- By South Dakota Teacher Effectiveness Domains/Components:
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