Davis School District Professional Learning Supervisor, Daron Kennett, wanted to put his money where his mouth is and create a professional learning platform that would allow teachers to receive credit for their real-world competencies, rather than having to sit through classes or trainings for hours to achieve credits.
“Wouldn’t it be amazing if we practiced what we preached with teachers and actually do competency-based learning… where we could give them credit for what they already know and are already doing,” Kennett said.
Kennett began the process of digital badges for teachers. The name of these competency credits changed from digital badges to what it is known as today – Utah Microcredentials. The Davis School District with Kennett in the lead has piloted the microcredential program and worked in conjunction with the Utah State Board of Education (USBE) to put them into place as a statewide credentialing option for all Utah teachers.
“Utah was the first state to put together a microredential platform. Many other states are now looking at our platform of microcredentials to build their own in their states,” said Kennett.
The concept for these competency-based online courses is to allow teachers to show competency for the work they already do on a day-to-day basis.
“Effective teachers are lifelong learners, and teachers are self-directed learners. Teachers don’t sit back and wait for a professional development to learn what they need to know. They are motivated to meet the needs of their students. That is professional learning,” said Kennett.
Kennett added that these microcredentials were created for just that reason. In the past, teachers did not have a way to be recognized or to validated for their self-directed, real-world learning but microcredentials “recognize the fact that teachers are professionals and honors and treats people the way they should be treated.”
While providing relicensure credit through the Utah State Board of Education Midas system is very beneficial for teachers, that is not all that microcredentials can do for teachers. Microcredentials can provide a digital resume for teachers to use to demonstrate competency to a prospective employer. With a click of one link on a digital resume, prospective employers can see the competency work a teacher has created that doesn’t just say they are competent, it shows that they are.
Teachers can also be awarded different teaching endorsements for completing a stack of microcredentials showing proficiency in that endorsement area. And, beginning the 2023-24 school year, Utah will be the first state who will also provide new teacher licensing through microcredentials.
There are currently over 300 microcredentials teachers can complete. Each microcredential will cost $20; however, many principals may be willing to cover the cost for their teachers if they are willing to become a teacher leader/trainer for the school on the topic and support other teachers at their school.
Kennett also said there are funds for teachers to create microcredentials on subjects they are familiar with. Interested teachers should contact Daron Kennett (dkennett@dsdmail.net) in the Professional Learning and Quality Staffing Department. If any teachers are interested in taking a microcredential they can visit the USBE website and review the Microcredentials Catalog.
Other useful links to information about Microcredentials: