Stackable Credentials: Are They Right for Your Program?

Stackable Credentials: Are They Right for Your Program?

Presenters Liberty Munson, Ph.D. Microsoft Jennifer Naughton, M.A., SPHR Manny Straehle, Ph.D., GISF, AERE

1. Definition 5. Myths 2. History Agenda 4. Examples 3. Applications

Definition A way to recognize incremental completion via credentials for certain skills or levels of a full certification program Signify competency in discrete skill or knowledge areas within the full stack of credentials that comprise a whole certification

Stackable Credentials Definition Part of a sequence of credentials that can be accumulated over time Purpose Build qualifications to help individuals move along a career pathway or up a career ladder and on to better jobs!

Benefits Employees & Students Use to better navigate career pathways and prove their knowledge and skills Employers Use to inform hiring, training, and promotion decisions and needs Educators Use to better align curricula with industry requirements

What it Really Is: A Positioning Tactic

IT Example

History

Vertical Stacking Expert Development Expert Intermediate Beginner

Horizontal Stacking Related Competencies Medical Terminology Pharmacology Neuroscience

Mixed Stacking: IT Professional IT Security C++ Expert Expert Intermediate Intermediate Beginner Beginner

Microsoft s Perspective

An Overview of MS Certification Exams Computer administered Test center deliveries or online proctoring Global distribution Ongoing delivery Variety of item types (e.g., multiple choice, drag and drop, active screen, hot area, case studies, labs, text entry, code analysis, etc.) 15

Microsoft Example

Microsoft Announces NEW Certification Structure Expert Certifications MCSE: Cloud Platform and Infrastructure - focusing on skills validation for Windows Server and Microsoft Azure MCSE: Mobility - focusing on skills validation for Windows Client and Enterprise Mobility Suite MCSE: Data Management and Analysis - focusing on skills validation for both on-premises and cloudbased Microsoft data products and services MCSE: Productivity - focusing on skills validation for Office 365, SharePoint, Exchange, and Skype for Business MCSD: App Builder - focusing on skills validation for Web and Mobile app development MCSD: Cloud Platform (in development) focusing on the development aspects of Cloud computing and DevOps To earn each of these credentials: Earn Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA) certification AND Pass a single additional exam from a list of electives Certifications will include achievement date that signifies candidates investment in staying up to date on the technology Every year, you will have the opportunity to re-earn the certification by passing an additional exam from the list of electives

How Credentials Stack Today Exam 1 Exam 2 MCSA MCSA Elective Exam MCSE/D MCSE/D Different Elective or Retake Exam MCSE/D + Year Renewed

Association for Talent Development

Association Example ATD created a personalized career development pathway using stackable credentials Seven stacks with ongoing educational offerings to assessment-based certificates and certifications Offerings are designed to serve talent development professionals throughout their careers All offerings are aligned and anchored to the content and roles defined by the ATD Competency Model

The ATD Competency Model The model answers the question: what do people need to know and do to be successful in talent development field? The model is a future-focused, research-based industry roadmap that identifies the critical competencies for talent development professionals Copyright (c) 2017 by the Association for Talent Development. All Rights Reserved.

ATD s Stackable Career Development Framework To the right is the stackable career development framework shown from the individual s perspective, which depicts the journey and the achievement The four types of ongoing educational offerings appear on the bottom: ATD Webcasts ATD Essentials ATD On Demand ATD Certificates Copyright (c) 2017 by the Association for Talent Development. All Rights Reserved.

Copyright (c) 2017 by the Association for Talent Development. All Rights Reserved. ATD s Stackable Career Development Framework The three credentials offered appear on the top: Master Certificate Series APTD Certification CPLP Certification

ATD s Stackable Career Development Framework CPLP certification is the premier certification but not the final stop Individuals update their knowledge and skills by revisiting the lower stacks and fueling up on education. Copyright (c) 2017 by the Association for Talent Development. All Rights Reserved.

Putting It All Together Putting It All Together Copyright (c) 2017 by the Association for Talent Development. All Rights Reserved.

Fast Tracking

Fast Tracking Successful program completion of the lower stacks applies to the eligibility requirements in the higher stacks For example: A qualifying Master is equivalent to one year of experience (3-5 years of experience is needed for entry into the APTD and CPLP certification programs) Copyright (c) 2017 by the Association for Talent Development. All Rights Reserved. 27

Fast Tracking Successful program completion of the lower stacks applies to the testing requirements in the higher stacks For example: A qualifying Master allows an individual to test out of one area on the APTD and CPLP certification knowledge exams Copyright (c) 2017 by the Association for Talent Development. All Rights Reserved. 28

Other Examples

USGBC/GBCI - Green Building Example

Example Higher Education

More Examples CISCO CCT Students achieve on the way to earning a BS in network engineering Digital Promise Innovative system of micro-credentials to recognize educators for the skills they have learned throughout their careers Learning Tree Stackable IT credentials involving core and elective coursework and exams Project Management Institute Project management certifications with beginner and practitioner levels and multiple specialties Axelos IT certification with foundation, practitioner, intermediate, expert and master levels

Tips for Building Design & Development Partner with the employer for labor market value Let program attendance patterns inform your decisions Reward natural milestones to create engagement and momentum Map the entire framework up front, but roll out offerings in phases Communication Provide guidance on the paths forward, especially the sequence Use positive metaphors (awards) not negative ones (mountains to climb) Business Decisions Pricing /naming should be relative to the value/worth of the credential

What the future might look like Certification is the industry recognized method for providing an independent validation of knowledge and skills. What do people want? What do employers want? Employers want easy way to verify skills Create your own certification testing on skills if and when needed, allowing candidates to specialize where appropriate We need to change the way we think about certification Candidates want closer alignment between training and certification We need to provide flexible, candidatecentered options that are appealing to new entrants and expand our audiences Stackable credentials to tell your story

Stacking Credentials to Build your Own Certification Step 1: Complete module 1 and take module 1 assessment Step 2: Complete module 2 and take module 2 assessment Step 3: Continue through course taking module level assessments & completing hands on activities, assignments Take end of course mini exam that only covers content in course End of course mini-exam requires application of skills attained during the course; it is MORE than an evaluation of learning objective attainment

An Example 4.NF203x Windows 10 Features for a Mobile Workforce: Identity Management and Data Access 4.INF205x Windows 10 Features for a Mobile Workforce: Managing and Maintaining Devices in the Enterprise 4.INF204x Windows 10 Features for a Mobile Workforce: Windows and Devices in the Enterprise 4.INF206x Windows 10 Features for a Mobile Workforce: Configuring Additional Resources Exam: 697 Configuring Windows 10

The Certification Journey Could Be Course & Mini Exam #1 Course & Mini Exam #4 Course & Mini Exam #2 MS cert exam Course & Mini Exam #5 MS cert exam Course & Mini Exam #3 Course & Mini Exam #6

Become an Expert Your Personal Credential Exam Course Portfolio Project Work Job Performance???

Myths Stackable credentials do need to meet measurement standards It is a type of credential It costs a lot of money It does not relate to accreditation standards

Questions?

Contact Information Liberty J. Munson, PhD Lead Psychometrician Microsoft Learning & Readiness lmunson@microsoft.com Jennifer Naughton, SPHR, MA (Education) Principal Naughton Consulting IC jnaughton2020@gmail.com LinkedIn.com Manny Straehle, Ph.D., GISF Founder and President Assessment, Education, and Research Experts (AERE) manny@aerexperts.com www.aerexperts.com