Philosophy:Microdegree

From HandWiki

In higher education a microdegree, microcredential or microcourse is a qualification[1] focused upon a specified professional or career discipline and typically comprises one or more sources of accelerated educational experiences. Microdegrees are a single manifestation of Competency Based Education (CBE) which seeks to tie credentialing to specific skill sets.[2] Micro-credentials may be completed on-site, online or in a blended format.[1]

Microcredentials including microdegrees act as a pointer to the criteria for and demonstration of the skills represented by the microcredential. Because the credentials are presented in a digital format, they can be parsed automatically for verification over the web and allow for a greater level of granularity than a traditional paper transcript. Microdegrees meet the criteria for Open Educational Data defined by the U.S. Department of Education.[3]

Within the hierarchy of educational credentials microdegrees are considered to be "certificates" requiring a lower level of commitment and rigor than a traditional degree program but serving an important role as a vocational credential.[4][5]

Microcredentials may have a credit value at either undergraduate or postgraduate level, and this may be used towards undergraduate or postgraduate qualifications.[6] or potentially at another university (subject to the agreement of the receiving institution).

The advent of the microdegree is presented by its promoters as a challenge to the existing degree model as it permits students to utilize accelerated, free and low cost programs to earn credentials of direct relevance to their interests and career ambitions.[7][8][9][10][11]

Microdegrees and other microcredentials are also seen as a system to facilitate and record lifelong learning.[12] A significant percentage of microdegree students are working adults seeking career change or advancement.[13][14]

Some institutions that offer microdegree programs describe themselves as a "Micro College".[15][16][17]

In recent years, MOOC platforms have started expanding their offerings of microcredentials as viable substitutes, going as far as offering a blended education model. Such programs allow graduates of the respective microcredential programs to have a reduced residency period at traditional universities.[18] For example, the MIT admitted in 2018 its first cohort of students in supply chain management at a reduced five-month residency period through their blended learning initiatives on the edX platform with the launch of its MicroMasters program.[19]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "A European approach to micro-credentials" (in en). 11 December 2020. https://ec.europa.eu/education/education-in-the-eu/european-education-area/a-european-approach-to-micro-credentials_en. 
  2. ↑ "MOOCs and Credentialing: A Revolutionary Perspective". EdCircuit.com. http://www.edcircuit.com/moocs-and-credentialing-a-revolutionary-perspective/. Retrieved 9 April 2015. 
  3. ↑ "Open Data". 9 April 2015. http://www2.ed.gov/about/data/index.html. Retrieved 9 April 2015. 
  4. ↑ Fain, Paul (6 June 2012). "Certificates are misunderstood credentials that pay off - mostly for men". InsideHigherEd.com. https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2012/06/06/certificates-are-misunderstood-credentials-pay-mostly-men. Retrieved 9 April 2015. 
  5. ↑ Leonhardt, David (5 March 2015). "Here's What Will Truly Change Higher Education: Online Degrees That Are Seen as Official". New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/08/upshot/true-reform-in-higher-education-when-online-degrees-are-seen-as-official.html. Retrieved 9 April 2015. 
  6. ↑ "WHAT ARE MICROCREDENTIALS?". https://www.open.ac.uk/courses/contentlibrary/imagelibrary/microcredentials/prospectus-pdf/microcredentials-2020-21-prospectus.aspx. 
  7. ↑ "Traditional college degrees could face 'serious competition' as online 'microdegrees' emerge, website reports". NOLA.com. 24 February 2015. http://www.nola.com/news/baton-rouge/index.ssf/2015/02/traditional_college_degrees_co.html. Retrieved 9 April 2015. 
  8. ↑ "How Google and Coursera may upend the traditional college degree | Brookings Institution". Brookings.edu. 23 February 2015. http://www.brookings.edu/blogs/techtank/posts/2015/02/23-mooc-google-coursera-butler. Retrieved 9 April 2015. 
  9. ↑ "Meet the New, Self-Appointed MOOC Accreditors: Google and Instagram – Wired Campus - Blogs - The Chronicle of Higher Education". Chronicle.com. 11 February 2015. http://chronicle.com/blogs/wiredcampus/meet-the-new-self-appointed-mooc-accreditors-google-and-instagram/55807. Retrieved 9 April 2015. 
  10. ↑ "MOOC Sightings 003: FutureLearn, Microdegrees, 'Open Internet' | Educational Technology and Change Journal". Etcjournal.com. 25 February 2015. http://etcjournal.com/2015/02/24/mooc-sightings-003-future-learn-microdegrees-open-internet/. Retrieved 9 April 2015. 
  11. ↑ "How to Make Micro Credentials Matter | EdSurge News". Edsurge.com. 2 February 2015. https://www.edsurge.com/n/2015-02-02-how-to-make-micro-credentials-matter. Retrieved 9 April 2015. 
  12. ↑ "Micro-Credentials: Empowering Lifelong Learners". Edutopia.org. http://www.edutopia.org/blog/micro-credentials-empowering-lifelong-learners-krista-moroder. Retrieved 9 April 2015. 
  13. ↑ Young, Jeffrey R. (9 March 2015). "PhD or Microdegree?". The Chronicle of Higher Education. http://chronicle.com/article/PhD-or-Microdegree-/228153/. Retrieved 9 March 2015. 
  14. ↑ "Degrees Converting Into Lifelong Learning, in Kaplan A.(2021) Higher Education at the Crossroads of Disruption, The University of the 21st Century". Emerald. https://books.emeraldinsight.com/page/detail/Higher-Education-at-the-Crossroads-of-Disruption/?k=9781800715042. Retrieved 19 April 2021. 
  15. ↑ "Micro-Colleges and the Pop-Up University". Hastac.org. http://www.hastac.org/blogs/bill-brantley/2014/01/12/micro-colleges-and-pop-university. Retrieved 9 April 2015. 
  16. ↑ "Trimming the Fat – Introducing the Lean Micro-College Model". www.futuristspeaker.com. 29 September 2013. http://www.futuristspeaker.com/2013/09/trimming-the-fat-introducing-the-lean-micro-college-model-for-education/. Retrieved 9 April 2015. 
  17. ↑ "DaVinci Coders given Microdegree-granting authority for its software coding courses". Innovationnews.com. 10 April 2015. http://www.innovationews.com/DaVinci-Coders-given-Microdegree-granting-authority-for-its-software-coding-courses/. Retrieved 10 April 2015. 
  18. ↑ Gordon, Adam. "'MicroMasters' Surge As MOOCs Go From Education To Qualification" (in en). Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/adamgordon/2018/02/13/voice-of-employers-rings-out-as-moocs-go-from-education-to-qualification/#3a218197564b. 
  19. ↑ "MIT MicroMasters Begins On-Campus Phase -- Campus Technology" (in en). https://campustechnology.com/articles/2018/02/06/mit-micromasters-begins-on-campus-phase.aspx. 



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