Micro-credentialing: Quality learning for quality teaching practices
The IEECE has launched an exciting new initiative for early childhood educators in
Palm Beach County. It is a digital badging system that visually shows identified education
pathways that move students forward to achieving proficiency in employability skills
necessary for all teaching professionals in the field.
The pathways are comprised of trainings/noncredit college courses that enhance classroom
teacher employability skills. These skills are valued by employers because they support
the creation of quality learning environments. They are valued by parents because
they ensure supportive teacher and child interactions that encourage cognitive, social,
and emotional development. And they are valued by teachers who can transport their
professional development achievements wherever their careers might take them.
In recognition of successful learning, there is financial recognition awarded for
each badge on a pathway and again when the pathway is completed and the micro-credential
is achieved!
Here’s how micro-credentialing works –
- A badge is awarded when a student successfully completes a set of grouped trainings
(noncredit courses) within a specific pathway.
- There are ten pathways:
- Decision-Making
- Awareness and Balance
- Lesson Planning
- Problem-Solving
- Developing Self-Regulation
- Leadership Reflection
- Creativity
- Observation and Feedback
- Adapt Lessons
- English Language Acquisition for Adults
- There are ten pathways:
- A micro-credential is awarded after the accumulation of badges within a specific pathway,
the completion of a portfolio, and an observation of the employability skill associated
with the specified micro-credential pathway
- A financial recognition is awarded to eligible students after successful completion
of each badge and micro-credential pathway. Eligibility criteria includes being an
early childhood professional and working at least 20 hours per week in an early childhood
program in Palm Beach County that receives some form of public funding/subsidy
- Financial recognition is given three times per year, at the end of each semester
The Micro-credentialing program operates under Badgr, a digital credential network that allows students to create an account and track their progress on the pathways.
Micro-credentialing Pathways
This pathway provides foundational knowledge and skills for essentialism, time management,
data informed decisions and marketing.
View the Decision-Making Pathway
This pathway provides knowledge and understanding of how to live a stress-free life
using mindfulness practices and other healthy exercises. Knowledge and skills will
also be taught to help children with their daily life stresses.
This pathway provides foundational knowledge and strategies in lesson planning for
the areas of STEAM, language, literacy, writing, science and social-emotional.
View the Lesson Planning Pathway
This pathway provides foundational problem-solving knowledge and skills for behavior
management and STEAM.
View the Problem-Solving Pathway
This pathway provides foundational knowledge and strategies in creating safety, creating
connections and building executive function.
View the Developing Self-Regulation Pathway
This pathway provides foundational knowledge and skills in reflecting on self, children
and the environment.
View the Leadership Reflection Pathway
This pathway provides foundational knowledge and strategies for practitioners to be
creative when designing learning opportunities that allow children to express themselves
and be creative.
This pathway provides foundational knowledge and strategies for leaders in observing
staff and providing feedback, as well as establishing a culture of coaching and mentoring
to provide a quality learning experience for children.
View the Observation and Feedback Pathway
This pathway provides foundational knowledge and skills in adapting lessons to incorporate
language, literacy, science and mathematics skills during centers and other parts
of the daily schedule to meet children's needs.
View the Adapt Lessons Pathway
This pathway provides foundational knowledge and skills in academic English. Learners
will practice written and oral communication abilities through activities with authentic
application in the early childhood classroom.
This pathway provides knowledge and skills in children’s social identity development,
creating a culture of equity, and building equitable relationships.
Skills Labs for Micro-credentialing
The Institute of Excellence in Early Care and Education believes in your pathway to success. Hence, the Institute is offering a modified pathway to earning badges, available only to those qualifying students who have already successfully completed certain coursework over the past few years.
All trainings at the Institute have been improved to provide stronger support for your employability skills and increase your recognition as a top teacher in the field. Therefore, the implementation plans of all the Institute’s courses have changed.
Qualifying students who are interested in participating must enroll in the specific qualifying course(s) when they are offered. During the time frame of the course, the student will complete the new implementation plans. The instructor of the course will be available to provide any guidance or knowledge the student may need. The student will not be required to attend the sessions of the course, but they are welcome to attend if they find it beneficial for the completion of their implementation plans.
For more information, please view the Skills Labs Guidelines below. Also, career advisors at the Institute are available to respond to questions regarding these skills labs.
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