Micro-Credentialing for Educators and Leaders

The College of Education of DePaul University through the Office of Innovative Professional Learning offers educators, leaders, and all professionals the cutting edge credentialing system of micro-credentialing. DePaul leverages the expertise of DePaul faculty and research-based best practices to create a series of micro-credential professional development opportunities which offer professionals the very distinct endorsement of their earned expertise by one of the nation’s leading universities.

Micro-credentialing, as a professional development experience, provide teachers and leaders a distinctive, cutting-edge, practical, and customized opportunity to both recognize current skill and advance their practice.

The DePaul Micro-Credentialing Professional Development Program is:

Personalized and customized – the impact of the “one and done” workshop is often very limited and ineffective. Micro-credentialing professional development is individualized and customized to meet the learning needs of teachers or leaders within the context of their current school in order to address existing goals or challenges with solutions derived from research-driven best practices. Coaching and mentoring provide the cornerstones of meaningful learning for participants.

Experiential and Competency-based learning: The DePaul micro-credential professional development programs engage participants in focusing on application of distinctive skills and practices within their own classroom, school, or organization thus learning is experiential and the validation of learning is based on the competencies demonstrated by the participants. The DePaul micro-credential program provides participants the resources to use development of new skills to positively impact their students, school, or organization. For example, using action research, participants may utilize a new teaching strategy to deepen student success in learning across disciplines. Measures of student success validate the skill of the educator.

Accessible and Manageable: Leveraging online learning and virtual synchronous mentoring and coaching, the DePaul micro-credentialing programs make the learning experience “fit” within the busy schedule of any professional. Participants use an online platform and have the option of virtual or in person meetings with DePaul expert faculty.

Distinctive: A micro-credential from DePaul University offers participants a distinctive and significant validation of the expertise earned in the experience. In addition, educators seeking CPDU credits for licensure may align their work with CPDU requirements and earn both the micro-credential and CPDUs. Micro-credentials are documented using a customized “digital badge” which can be displayed on any digital platform including Linkedin or other social-medias.

For more information about our micro-credential programs, please contact:

Dr. Donna Kiel – dkiel@depaul.edu

Micro-credential Opportunities

Master Teacher Program

Micro-credentials in this program may be “stacked” to earn the distinction of “Master Teacher”. Participants completing one or more micro-credentials from each series will be awarded the distinction of “Master Teacher”

Innovative Teacher Series

The Innovative Teaching series focuses on the skill of design and delivery of curriculum and instruction and consists of the following micro-credentialing learning experiences:

Blended Learning Curriculum Development and Instructional Best Practice

Blended learning offers students the power of engagement using technology. This micro-credential is customized to build upon the teacher’s skill in effective technology integration while deepening the teacher’s skill in digital learning with blended environments. This micro-credential engages the teacher in extending beyond simply adding technology in classrooms. Teachers will apply best practices directly in classes using technology — digital course materials, online learning management systems, or virtual classrooms— to enhance a student’s learning experience.

Student Centered Learning

Engaging all students in the learning experience and applying strategies to put the student at the center of instruction involves a deep understanding of both learning and social-emoational skill development. This micro-credential advances the practitioner’s skill in how to sequence activities, structure experiences, and engage learners. Through hands-on experiences and extensive opportunities for mentoring and reflection with a DePaul University faculty member, the practitioner will enliven the learning experience and demonstrate new levels of student success.

Teacher Practitioner Series

Standard Based Grading

Examine and deepen the use of assessment practices in the classroom. This micro-credential is customized to build upon a teacher’s current assessment practice by applying new learning of research-based practices for using quality formative assessments aligned with solid grading practices, resulting in instructional decisions based on sound assessment data. During this micro-credential, teachers will examine current grading practices and how they relate to student learning, connect formative assessment practices with grading practices that accurately reflect student achievement, and develop standard based grading practices to support measureable student success.

Assessment Design, Delivery, and Analysis

Selecting the right type of assessment, designing assessment, and utilizing assessment to refine teaching and offer formative feedback requires ongoing professional development and practice. Effective assessment allows students to demonstrate their achievement of a learning target by applying their new learning and gaining from the assessment process. Leveraging learning analytics requires a shift in mindset by the teacher and the student. This micro-credential engages the educator in an action research process of carefully examining current assessment practices and selecting an area of focus that targets student learning and educator practice.

Meaningful Curriculum Design

Creating new and innovative lessons or practices requires ongoing skill development and understanding of a wide range of methods and strategies for teaching. Inquiry based teaching, problem based learning, project based instruction provide foundations for teachers, yet customizing and creating curriculum that meets school or district requirements while meeting the learning needs of students can benefit from unit and lesson design in collaboration with other practitioners. This micro-credential engages practitioners using action research to improve the learning effectiveness and efficiency.

Connected Teacher Series

Deepening Learning with Mindset and Mindfulness

Research around student mindset and growth mindset indicates the vital role of student internal dialogue and teacher feedback on the learning process. Persistence, perseverance, and curiosity about learning can be deeply influenced by the teachers practices of skills associated with growth mindset and mindfulness. Classroom management and student performance as well as life management can be dynamically and positively influence by teacher skill in mindfulness. This micro-credential engages the educator with experientially learning the skills of mindfulness with personal reflection, growth and application in the educator’s classroom.

Teaching and Leading focused on Life and Learning Purpose

Beyond the requirement to integrate social-emotional learning, educators play a critical role in guiding students to deeper learning by connecting learning to a personal life purpose. A learning purpose connected to personal insights and self-awareness create in students the meaningful skills of motivation and curiosity needed for deep learning. During this micro-credential, teachers will examine their own purpose and methods to monitor personal awareness to prevent burn out, stress and anxiety while teaching the skills to their students.

Master Global Practitioner and International Educator

Expert in International Mindedness

The growing global context of our schools, classrooms, and organizations presents unique challenges for teaching, learning, and leading. During this micro-credential, participants will engage in deepening their understanding of their unique international experience and the strategies to bring this awareness to their area of practice.

Expert in International Teaching and Learning

Learning is deeply influenced and tied to culture. Understanding the nuances of American culture on learning for non-American cultures provides educators with the foundation from which to differentiate instruction that is inclusive and engaging for all students. During this micro-credential, educators will examine current methods of instruction using the lens of culture and then how to enhance instruction to meet challenges of learning for international students.

Expert in Applying Assessment in a Global Classroom

Assessment presents a challenge in a homogeneous classroom and an even more significant challenge in an international classroom. During this micro-credential, participants will utilize theories and research regarding learning, culture, and assessment to gain skill and expertise in designing and delivering assessment in the context of a global classroom.

Master of Thoughtful Leadership

The Master of Thought Leadership series focuses on developing the unique leadership skills within each participant. The series includes:

Innovative Leadership

Using research driven leadership strategies, each learner is guided in a customized process to make innovation a top strategic imperative. Learners design and implement an Idea Management Process create a culture of creativity and change. Learners apply the essential tools necessary to discover breakthrough ideas, create a culture of innovation, and involve everyone in the process.

Mindful Leadership

Creativity is critical to solving complex challenges and leading organizational change. During this micro-credential, learners learn to build a culture that sparks inspiration and collaboration, inspires others to think creatively, and ensures that the next innovation project is set up for success. Through interactive coaching and dynamic discussions that draw on the research, participants apply the skills, techniques, and strategies to successfully sustain growth and secure success for an organization.

Teacher Leadership

This micro-credential offers specialized, job-embedded training to support teacher-leaders within varying roles, including those who lead departments, teams, or professional learning within their school. The focus of this micro-credential is team leadership and builds upon a teacher’s leadership skill with strategies to lead collaborative problem-solving, lead team meetings effectively and efficiently, and tailoring one’s leadership style to meet the team teachers’ needs.

Office of Innovative Professional Learning

Micro-credential Programs