A first-of-its-kind partnership to help educators earn micro-credentials
BANGOR – The Maine Department of Education’s Learning Through Technology Team and the Association of Computer Technology Educators of Maine (ACTEM) announces a new partnership with national education non-profit Digital Promise to bring micro-credentials to Maine’s educators.
This partnership makes Maine the first state to formally enter such a partnership and the first state to use this systemic approach to supporting teachers.
Micro-credentials allow educators to be recognized for their continued professional development. These credentials represent how an educator demonstrates skills in using technology in learning from employing text, audio or video interaction to evaluation guides and scoring rubrics. They also enable our public education system to continuously identify, capture, recognize, and share the best practices of Maine’s educators so all teachers can hone their existing skills and continue to learn.
The Maine educator micro-credentials will be developed using Digital Promise’s micro-credential framework and made available through Digital Promise’s educators micro-credential platform. Credentials are available for teachers, librarians, school tech leads, and school leaders who are focused on skills shown to improve learning with technology.
Educators select a micro-credential to earn, provide the necessary evidence and submit the materials through an online system. Credentialed assessors will review the evidence and provide feedback as needed, guiding the educator to successful completion to earn a micro-credential.
“Schools are working on so many important education initiatives at the moment,” says Mike Muir, Maine DOE’s Learning Through Technology Director, “and there simply are not enough workshop days, early release days, curriculum leaders, instructional coaches, or technology integrators to go around. We need to offer ways for schools and districts to identify approaches to professional learning and support that personalize the learning for educators and provide the earned recognition.”
President and Chief Executive Officer of Digital Promise, Karen Cator, says, “Micro-credentials offer educators a new way to drive their professional development to meet their personal learning goals, support their students, or pursue new school or district goals. We are excited to bring this opportunity to Maine’s educators with a focus on technology-supported learning.”
The micro-credentials comply with the Open Badge Standard, which allows educators to collect them from multiple sources and easily share the credentials in job application materials, on their personal web sites or via social media.
Today’s announcement was made at the ACTEM 2015 Conference in Bangor.
For more information contact, Director of Maine Learning through Technology Initiative, Mike Muir, at mike.muir@maine.gov or Director of Communications, Anne Gabbianelli at anne.gabbianelli@maine.gov; 624-6747 or 592-4439.
About Digital Promise
Digital Promise is a nonprofit organization authorized by Congress to spur innovation in education in order to improve the opportunity to learn for all Americans. Through its work with educators, entrepreneurs, researchers, and leading thinkers, Digital Promise supports a comprehensive agenda to benefit lifelong learning and provide Americans with the knowledge and skills needed to compete in the global economy.
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