Faculty Educational Technology Support

Microcredentials, also called badges, are digital certificates of learning that can be shared to social media, job sites (such as LinkedIn), or directly with prospective employers. They can be tailored to tell the story of that learner’s knowledge and skill attainment. More than just pictures, they also contain the metadata to back them up. Included in every badge is a description of the badge, the criteria used to earn the badge, and any skills that the badge certifies. They are verified using the OpenBadges 2.0 standard, which includes information about the issuer of the badge, such as their website, email, and full details.

Marian University offers micorcredentialing to the Marian community regardless of whether you are faculty, staff, credit-, or non-credit learner. Marian partners with Instructure’s Credentials to issue its microcredentials. Since Instructure is the company behind another of Marian's partnerships, Canvas, users will benefit from the two programs working seamlessly together to help learners, instructors, and the institution track and showcase the learning that the Marian community brings to both Central Indiana and beyond through the Marian University Online Programs.

In keeping with Marian's mascot, the Knights, Marian University's microcredentials are separated into the three stages of learning in the life of the knights. See the brief descriptions below and the graphic for more details.

• Participatory activities and learning opportunities are documented through the use of Page Badges. They are identified by their round background design. 
• Learning activities are broken down and documented through the three levels of Marian's Squire Badges based on the complexity of the learning objective that the learner had to meet when earning the badge. They are identified by their square backgrounds with rounded corners. Meeting foundational learning objectives is showcased by the bronze Squire Badges. Emerging learning objectives are indicated by silver badges, and complex learning objectives are indicated by gold badges.
• Practical competence or "Knight Badges" are awarded for proven learning in high-stakes environments and cumulative learning experiences. These are identified by the distinctive "shield" shaped background and indicate an above-average stringency in criteria, assessment, evidence, and impact outside of the Marian community.
  • While course completion could be considered a "cumulative learning experience", badges are issued for verifying specific learning objectives and so are not issued as simple "digital transcripts" of a course. 

While these are the initial and general guidelines around issued badge types, we strive to promote both value to the badges being offered and flexibility on the part of the instructor or issuer of the badge. Some badges may vary in criteria to fit the instructor or issuer's needs, but all will be backed up by data explaining any differences to the standards laid out here.

Any faculty or staff wanting to offer microcredentials for certain objectives should fill out the form requesting the creation of microcredentials (found below the graphic describing the process). The request will be processed by the Educational Technology team. Any questions about the form or microcredentialing can also be directed to the Educational Technology team. Once approved, an image will be created for the badge by MARCOM, and the Educational Technology team will reach out to find an issuer to sponsor the badge.

Every badge offered needs to have an issuer. Typically, this is a department at the University or a committee responsible for the learning that the microcredential attests to. They are the "authoritative backing" of the microcredential. One part of the form allows the faculty or staff who want to offer a badge to enter their preferred issuer. The final step to getting the badge approved is to contact the preferred issuer to verify that they wish to "sponsor" the microcredential in consideration of the other information provided in the request form. The issuer is also listed in the metadata of the badge as the main point of contact regarding any questions about the badge's validity or earning information.

Once an issuer has been determined, the Educational Technology team will assist the user in setting up their process for badge delivery. After approval, the Exchange will assist in the verification of associated skills for credit-based activities, while Online Programs does the same for non-credit opportunities.

Microcredential Request Form