Micro-Credential Standards

Below is information regarding the creation of a micro-credential at OSU–Stillwater. If you are interested in creating a micro-credential or digital badge, please consult your department head and Vice Probst, Dr Chris Ormsbee.

 

Micro-credential is defined as:

• a designed framework of knowledge, skills, and abilities;
• alignment to industry/market demands or learning outcomes and objectives;
• verifiable evidence of learning achievement;
• displayed as a digital badge.

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Types of Micro-Credentials

Embedded

These are micro-credentials which are associated with or “embedded” in academic courses. They do not represent the sum knowledge of the course, but rather, showcase concrete knowledge, skills and abilities acquired by a learner through completing the academic course. These are offered for academic courses which contain particularly desirable skills within the workforce.

 

Non-Embedded

These are micro-credentials which are not associated with specific academic courses but are earned through other learning experiences. These can include things like workshops, internships and non-academic courses.

 

Stand-Alone

Micro-credentials can be designed as stand-alone competencies. These are issued as independent digital badges.

 

Related

Other micro-credentials are designed to relate to other micro-credentials. These can be collections of badges that are related by subject area, department or a particular skill type. They can also be “stackable,” meaning that a collection can be interdependent, so that the acquisition of one badge might allow you to earn another, related badge.

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Difficulty Level

OSU Standards

Foundational

Professional development of at least eight hours in length, with content at the introductory level. It requires comprehension to application level of engagement.

 

Intermediate

Professional development that requires application of skills and concepts to a product by participants.

 

Advanced

Professional development that requires the completion of a series of professional development experiences that require demonstration of a high-level understanding and demonstration of skills and concepts.

 

OSHRE Standards

Level 1—Experience

Individually measured, unstructured learning. Includes: membership, volunteering, other activities.

 

Level 2—Learning

Individually measured, structured learning. Includes: self-paced courses, technical competency, soft-skills training.

 

Level 3—Validation

Measured and validated learning. Includes: learning activities, summative assessments, portfolio or project artifacts.

 

Level 4—Certification

Industry recognized, validated achievements. Includes: industry-endorsed certifications, professional licensure, terminal credential.

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How to Apply

Host

Badgr

OSU-Stillwater hosts and manages all of its digital credentials through Badgr. If you earn a micro-credential through Badgr, you will create a Badgr account, where you can accept, view and share your digital badge.

 

OSU Contact

For more information about micro-credentials and digital badges at Oklahoma State University–Stillwater, please contact:

 

Dr. Chris Ormsbee
Vice Provost, Outreach, Online Education & ITLE 
Institute for Teaching and Learning Excellence

100 ITLE
Stillwater, OK 74078

Office: 405-744-1000
ormsbee@okstate.edu