Micro-Credentials
Get recognized for your growth as an educator.
ArkansasIDEAS and the offices of Educator Effectiveness and Licensure have partnered to offer micro-credentials for educators in Arkansas. This personalized, competency-based professional learning helps you improve a discrete skill over time. The rotating schedule has a limited number of seats, so enroll as soon as you're interested!
What are micro-credentials?
A micro-credential is professional learning that allows an educator to demonstrate competency in a discrete skill by submitting artifacts scored by trained assessors against a rubric. After completing the micro-credential, educators receive a digital badge to display as evidence of consistent and effective use of the target skill in their professional practice.
Why earn micro-credentials?
Micro-credentials allow educators to learn, reflect, and implement content that will impact their professional practices and lead to higher student achievement. They also allow educators the flexibility to personalize learning experiences that are relevant to their students' needs and grounded in research-backed best practices. Micro-credentials provide a way to recognize educators for existing skills and talents, or for newly acquired skills demonstrated in their own time and education.
How are micro-credentials being used in Arkansas?
DESE recognizes micro-credentials as part of a comprehensive system of professional development. Currently, DESE-approved micro-credentials are used in various ways to support teachers across the career continuum.
Explore Micro-Credentials on ArkansasIDEAS
DESE is excited to offer micro-credentials on a variety of skills relevant to Arkansas educators. The Office of Educator Effectiveness and Licensure provides micro-credentials at no cost to Arkansas teachers and administrators through ArkansasIDEAS.
Visit ArkansasIDEAS to explore currently available micro-credentials and enrollment opportunities.
Learn More About Micro-Credentials
Watch this short video to learn more about professional learning through micro-credentials.
How Micro-Credentials Support Arkansas Educators
Pedagogy Assessment Micro-credential
An educator teaching under a Provisional Professional Teaching License (PPTL) may choose to complete micro-credentials to replace the Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT) as a measure of pedagogical assessment. In addition, the PPTL educator may complete micro-credentials to fulfill the requirement of an additional 12 hours of pedagogical training each year. To learn more, please speak to your licensure advisor.
Arkansas Teacher Career Continuum
Career Professionals seeking to earn the Master Professional Educator or Lead Professional Educator designation can select from approved micro-credential pathways to earn these distinctions for licensure.
Additional Opportunities
Districts may elect to use stacks of micro-credentials to create opportunities for advancement on their salary schedules.
For more information, please contact:
Lori Bush
Manager of Course Choice and Micro-Credentials
Department of Education | Educator Effectiveness & Licensure
Email: Lori.Bush@ade.arkansas.gov
Telephone: 501-683-1417
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