Micro-credentials Resources for Affiliates

Contents

• NEA Micro-credentials Toolkit for Affiliates
• Gaining Currency for Micro-credentials
• Micro-Credentials Professional Learning Community (PLC) Guidance
• NEA Micro-Credentials Promotional Materials
• Materials Available on Creative Companion

NEA Micro-Credential Implementation Planning Toolkit

The best way for affiliates to engage members in professional learning is by providing a micro-credential implementation support model that brings educators together in collaborative groups, such as professional learning communities (PLCs), to focus on common learning goals. Based on our experience, supported micro-credential engagement resulted in a higher percentage of micro-credentials being awarded: 87 percent compared to 53 percent without support.

This toolkit is designed to help affiliates think through the many decisions and tasks associated with implementing micro-credentials with a group of educators. The toolkit has three main sections — Ready to Plan, Ready to Launch, and Ready to Implement — with tips to help you imagine the components of a successful micro-credential implementation. These are accompanied by a list of resources you can share with members of your learning group to introduce micro-credentials, and checklists you can use to track your progress through the Plan, Launch, and Implement phases of set-up. This planning toolkit is intended to be used as a discussion guide and may be adapted to meet local needs and goals.

Related Resources

• Full Micro-credentials Toolkit for Affiliates
• Readiness Checklist - Track your progress through the Plan, Launch, and Implement phases of setting up a PLC.
• Ready to Plan - Understanding the value and structure of NEA Micro-Credentials.
• Ready to Launch - Timeline considerations, plus sample recruitment materials.
• Ready to Implement - Setting up a virtual PLC with edCommunities, plus ideas for encouraging PLC members along the way.
• Resources for Sharing - Links to articles, videos, and graphics to help you explain NEA's micro-credentials.

Gaining Currency for Micro-Credentials

Micro-credentials are a relatively new type of professional learning opportunity in the education community. Therefore, affiliates, districts, and states are all grappling with how to best integrate micro-credentials into their current professional learning systems. To have value, the micro-credential requires three elements—the issuer (NEA, Learning Forward, CTQ, etc.), the user (the educators who earn them), and importantly, the recognizer (the school district or state) that gives the micro-credential currency through recognition for advancement, professional compensation, and/or recertification. As educators across the country find ways to gain currency in their context, the NEA will be tracking model collective bargaining and policy language for their use.

The NEA departments of Collective Bargaining and Member Advocacy and Teacher Quality collaborated on this document to highlight some issues that local affiliates should consider when implementing a micro-credential program. This is the first version of this document. As more NEA locals have experiences with micro-credentials, we anticipate revising this document and ultimately including strong contract language that our locals have negotiated.

Related Resource

Some issues that local affiliates should consider when implementing a micro-credential program.

• Micro-credential Guidance for Certified Educators
• Micro-credential Guidance for ESPs

Micro-Credential Professional Learning Community (PLC) Facilitator Guide

This guide is designed to provide facilitators of micro-credential professional learning communities (PLCs) with the information, tools, and strategies needed to effectively support educators interested in earning a micro-credential. The guide is organized in four parts: Background Information, Expectations of a PLC Facilitator, Support Content, and Facilitation Strategies. Each part provides a facilitator of the micro-credential PLC with the basic information, resources, and tools needed to support a group of educators as they prepare and submit a micro-credential.

Download the guide here.

NEA’s Micro-Credentials Promotional Toolkit:

NEA’s Micro-Credentials Program is a valuable professional learning opportunity available for our members to help them grow and sharpen their skills in a way that is accessible and convenient.

NEA’s Micro-Credentials Toolkit Materials:

To help you get the word out about the benefits of NEA’s Micro-Credential Program we’ve put together a number of tools and resources that you can customize, tailor and distribute to your members. These include:

Promotional Video

Sample Social Media Posts – tweak and tailor these messages to get a buzz going on social media about the program.

• Looking for a way to skill-up and take your teaching to the next level? NEA micro-credentials are the way to go. Plus, NEA members can take advantage of this professional learning opportunity at no cost!

• What’s a micro-credential? It’s your way of improving your teaching, and pushing your career forward. Learn more about how you can start your journey now:

• As an NEA member, you can earn as many micro-credentials (they’re kind of like mini certifications) as you want at no cost to you or your school.
  
  Edit media

• Time to get the study group together! Professional development is more fun with a friend. Take advantage of the NEA membership benefit that could mean more $$$ in your pocket and more knowledge to bring to your students. Learn more about micro-credentials and join a PLC today!

Materials Available on Creative Companion

• Website Buttons and Banners – use these graphics on your website to help promote the program.
• Downloadable Flyer – this flyer highlights program and its benefits and can be used at meetings, events and as a leave behind.
• Email template –customizable email copy that help you introduce members to NEA’s Micro-Credentials.
• Sample Newsletter/Article Copy – tailor and customize this copy to use in your publications to help you educate your readers about what NEA Micro-Credentials are and what they offer.
• Talking Points/Messaging – use these talking points to help you stay on message when talking about the program.
• Social Media Graphics – use these graphics on your social media accounts to spread the word about NEA’s Micro-Credentials.

Creative Companion Directions:

• Log into Creative Companion
• Click the “Browse” button under the “Digital Assets” folder
• Click on the  “New Digital Assets” folder
• Click on the Micro-credentials folder 

Have questions? Feel free to email us at [email protected] or visit www.nea.org/micro-credentials for more information.