UM Today | Extended Education

June 28, 2021 –

Micro-skills are a hot topic in post-secondary education. The last two sessions of Extended Education’s inaugural webinars on continuing education, “Lifelong Learning: Putting Ideas Into Practice,” discussed the importance of micro-qualifications and the recognition of alternative digital certificates.

“Micro-credentials are not as elusive and complex as we like to think,” said Rod Lastra, Associate Dean (Academic), Extended Education at the June 11 meeting. “A micro-credential provides in-demand skills that are industry-focused and based on research or consultation with academic units or industry.”

Of course, Extended Education has been offering this type of professional development with certificate and other degrees and courses for many years. But can a micro degree simply be called a shorter degree? No. There is more.

Digital documentation
Julia Denholm, Dean for Lifelong Learning at Simon Fraser University, who spoke at the second meeting on June 18th: “Documentation (of competencies) is new.”

Daniel Piedra, associate director of McMaster University Continuing Education, agreed. “The difference is the digital element. It makes the end result more valuable, ”he said. “Employers don’t speak the language of post-secondary education… Competence is the new currency for getting hired. Unless an employer could go through a curriculum, they will not know what they have learned. Digital badges go through the skills and can be shared. You allow them to see. “

Denholm said micro-credentials arose from “a suspicion of what post-secondary education has to offer learners,” a suspicion coming from the United States regarding undergraduate degrees.

“You have to be very adept when you talk about something like this. There is a tension between what is being delivered and what is being shown, ”said Denholm. “The average faculty member isn’t very keen on making learning explicit, but that can change. The old school approach was that a bachelor’s degree demonstrated professional willingness … Do general degrees have professional implications? The government said they should do it. “

Piedra noted, “The use of alternative digital credentials can provide broad recognition of relevant skills and competencies that can render the traditional university credentials irrelevant and obsolete. Today’s graduates have no tools to share what they have learned. The information can be easily shared with details and details. It is a great strengthening force for the learner. “

Lastra suggested that micro-credentials need a framework for skills and competencies. “Interest has increased due to the disruptions to the pandemic including lockdown, unemployment and discomfort. The program development is outperforming the national framework, ”he said.

Denholm disagreed. “We want to make learning explicit. The framework is secondary, ”said Denholm.

Piedra pointed out the potential of the metadata. “Without this framework, the data itself is the learner’s property (as opposed to a transcript) if we stick to creating relevant, verifiable, secure and possessed micro-credentials,” he said. “I’m not that keen on the name digital credential. It could be attributed to a degree or a diploma and provides metadata. “

It’s about the learner
Athabasca University’s nearly two-year-old PowerEd offers online microcourses and references, said Jessica Butts Scott, director. “People are flying the pandemic basket. Now is the time for a strategy. “

She cited a recent study by Angus Reid that examined Canadians’ feelings about post-secondary education. It turns out that more than half of Canadians are dissatisfied with their job. Almost 75 percent said they had continuous learning goals and 60 percent would like to pursue micro-qualifications.

“Micro-Credentials are designed to meet the learning needs of Canadians. The Canadians from this study are ready to do whatever it takes to get there, “she said, adding that micro-credentials need to be” purpose-built “and schools should treat students like online consumers.

She found that learners want more control over their learning experience. It should fit into your professional schedule. “Today, learners demand more than ever. The future for micro credentials looks bright. “

Lastra said: “This dialogue has forced us to think strategically about the 21st century, rethink authentic learning and consider modalities. The big idea is to democratize learning, which we haven’t done yet … Degrees are not dead. Degrees are valid. Skills may not be properly validated. Traditional courses are not designed to validate learning outcomes. “

At the end of the day, it’s all about the learners, said Butts Scott.

PowerEd has six credits and four in development. “We hear that people want more control over their learning process. Most of our courses are on demand. The students buy them and start learning. “

“Any type of authorization must be led by an instructor,” said Lastra.

The discussion continues.

Watch the series. Let us know if you are interested in future webinars.

Liz Katynski

source https://collegeeducationnewsllc.com/um-today-extended-education/