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Another in the blog series by Brad Zomick for skilledup for learners from 9/14/13. He discusses whether digital badges and certificates mean anything to employers, and what their actual worth is. Badges are mostly used for incentives along the way in a course, and are often not very meaningful. Same for certificates of completion. Most valuable are online certifications if they are associated with a company such as Microsoft, an accredited school, or other recognized entity. Zomick states that online badges, certificates, and credentials are most valuable when embedded in an online portfolio that shows your work and the skills you learned to do the work.

Look at how the social learning certificate portfolio requirements in the overview are presented with the certificate timeline. I find this clear and compelling . . . should we adapt for badges?

ALISON MOOC--"With more than 1.2 million unique visitors per month and 250,000 graduates worldwide, Advance Learning Interactive Systems Online (ALISON), founded in 2007, is considered by some the first massive online open course (MOOC). " blog by Ellis Booker, Information Week Education, Excerpt: "Our focus is workplace skills," company CEO Mike Feerick told InformationWeek in a phone interview. Indeed, ALISON started with two globally in-demand skills: English and IT literacy, the latter in the form of ABC IT, a 15- to 20-hour training suite that remains the site's most popular course." Excerpt: "Employers don't care where you found those skills or how much you paid for them," he insists. Rather, employers want one thing: Verified competency. One service ALISON offers is tests for prospective hires that employers can administer to check the competence of job applicants who come with ALISON certificates. For a small fee, students can purchase an ALISON certificate after successfully completing a course, as a PDF, paper parchment or framed parchment."

Georgia Tech does a lot of its courses online and is encouraging more courses to go online. Some questions have been raised about the quality that I am still trying to explore. But the excerpt below on FAQ--last question--might be useful to us in describing our courses. Excerpt: "FAQ Will I get a certificate after completing this class? Certificate of Completion will be provided by Georgia Tech C21U What resources will I need for this class? You will a good internet connection as you may be downloading software, installing software and uploading files. What is the coolest thing I'll learn if I take this class? You will learn how to convert your face-to-face class to a robust online course"

Great site for learning html, and a good model because they offer W3Schools certificates. This is the home page, with the topics you can learn listed in the left hand column. It is easy to follow and understand.

Here's one of the html sites I used to construct the table. It is an easy to use site, and they offer certificates.

Interesting article in the NYT by Taffy Brodesser-Akner from Dec. 28, 2013 about the life coach, Martha Beck, who has built a multimillion-dollar business on helping executives, and others, find their passion and what they want to do with their lives. Her biggest money maker is her certification process for her method of life coaching. She trains others and they pay for the courses, pay for the certification, pay to have her seal on their websites.

white paper out on how associations can add value by providing different kinds of development opportunities with mini-credentials and certificates for employees desiring to move upward in their careers.

Brad Zomick of skilledup for learners did a series on proving your skills to employers which included digital badges and certificates, credentials, and traditional degrees.

Blog post by Jenny Mackness on April 24, 2012 announcing a MOOC on First Steps into Learning and Teaching in Higher Education, #fslt12, running from 5/21 to 6/22. Raises issues of how to engage with learners who may not be well-grounded in technology yet who might want to participate because of content, finding the right balance. Will offer certificate for "assessed" learners. Excerpt: "This is an exciting but rather daunting process. We have had lots of interest, with people from all over the world expressing interest in different aspects of learning and teaching in Higher Education. I am beginning to realize the amount of work that must go on behind the scenes in the other MOOCs I have attended. We have deliberately chosen to distribute the course across different platforms - WordPress (for the Home site), Moodle (for the course), Blackboard Collaborate (for the live synchronous sessions) and we are still discussing whether or not to have a separate wiki site, or to go with the wiki in Moodle. The reason for this decision (i.e. the different platforms) is that we hope to introduce participants new to teaching in HE to the idea that learning can take place in a variety of online spaces. Access to our WordPress site has been open pretty much from the word go, and now access to the Moodle site has been opened, despite the fact that neither of these is yet ready. For me, this is a new way of working and takes a bit of getting used to (heart in your mouth stuff!). Finally, we are conscious that the course has been designed to attract people for whom this way of working and the technology involved might be completely new -so we have to achieve the right balance between providing enough structure and support and encouraging open academic practice and independent learning - one of the many tensions involved in designing a MOOC."

An interesting website that offers eCoach services to help someone become an online facilitator of professional learning communities. Scroll down to see promise of stimulus funds for eCoach certification.

article by Steven Mintz for the Chronicle of HE, July 22, 2013 Excerpt: "But the most important challenge involves a shift in the way students consume higher education. Instead of attending a single institution, students receive credit in multiple ways, including from early-college/dual-degree programs, community colleges, online providers, and multiple universities. Students are voting with their feet, embracing online courses and undermining core curricula, which served as a cash cow, by turning to alternate providers, and pursuing fewer majors that require study of a foreign language." Fifteen innovations: 1. e-advising 2. evidence-based pedagogy 3. decline of lone eagle teaching 4. optimized class time 5. earlier educational transitions 6. fewer large lecture classes 7. new frontiers for e-learning 8. personalized adaptive learning 9. increased competency based and prior learning results; 10. data driven instructions 11. aggressive pursuit of new revenue 12. online and low-residency degrees at flagships 13. more certificates and badges 14. free and open textbooks 15. public-private partnerships

Center for Association Leadership, FAQ page ASAE members primarily represent trade associations, and individual membership organizations or professional societies, organized under Section 501(c)(6) of the tax code; and philanthropic organizations, organized under Section 501(c)(3). In 2009, there were 90,908 trade and professional associations, and 1,238,201 philanthropic or charitable organizations. Associations are organized for all types of purposes, but there are some recurring benefits they typically provide their members, including: Education / professional development Information, research, statistics Standards, codes of ethics, certification Forum (face to face or virtual) to discuss common problems and solutions Service / mission oriented - volunteerism and community service Provide a community, network, "home", identity, participation What is the role or connection between ASAE, and the association community at large? A: ASAE is often thought of as the gateway to associations, because it is the largest organization of its kind working to advance and promote the association profession. ASAE represents more than 21,000 association executives and industry partners representing 10,000 organizations. Our members manage leading trade associations, individual membership societies and voluntary organizations across the United States and in nearly 50 countries around the world. The promise ASAE makes to members is to provide exceptional experiences, a vibrant community, and essential tools that make them and their organization more successful.

blog by Martin Davies for Wiley.com on value of eLearning programs for professional membership groups

Article by Jeffrey R. Young, June 9, 2015 in the Chronicle of HE on incentive value of badges for professors to take teaching workshops. Should we offer a badge for ECO completers? "Still, badges are probably more valuable to professors than are the paper certificates that Kent State traditionally gave to those who completed training workshops in the past. "It's an easy way for a professor to show that I'm that type of faculty member that goes and does faculty development," said Ms. Kelly."

article by Robert Elsenpeter, Star Tribune, 2008. Expand Your Network Many admins are already members of the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP). And while that is a group worth joining, there are other organizations - like Toastmasters - that can help your professional life. "Attend community groups and industry association meetings," says Kathy Northamer, vice president of OfficeTeam in the Twin Cities. "Make presentations on your area of expertise. Volunteer with a nonprofit. You'll not only gain new contacts, but acquire experience and work samples you can use to build your career." Different organizations can offer different opportunities. But there is one thing they all have in common and it's something beneficial for the admin. "Networking, networking, networking!" says Northamer. "The more contacts in your network who know you, the more likely you will secure leads, interviews and interesting job offers." Reasons to Join a Professional Organization: Personal and professional development resources. Networking opportunities. Professional certification that can help your career. Service and support from the national organization. Opportunities to develop one's leadership skills. Discounts on related products and services. Regular organization conferences. Member publications.

Charles Jennings, November 17, 2014 "This type of learning is 'designed' by the individual (sometimes with input from their manager), it is self-managed, and the measurement is in terms of outputs - not by passing a test or some form of certification but by demonstrating the ability to do work better, faster, more accurately, with greater agility and levels of innovation if needed."

article by Bryant Nielson on how to develop new skills--online courses, study LinkedIn for certifications held by people in youer field. 

great article by Ernie Smith, January 2017, on studies completed recently by edX (MIT and Harvard) on four years of MOOCs and effectiveness and certifications. good comments too

excellent explanation by Tom Vander Ark on why parent-managed learner profiles are becoming more important all the time for young people.  Is the corollary true for adults owning their learning in portable, digital carry-alongs for sharing with potential employers, etc.  

blog post by Susan J. Ellis, Energize, February 2017, great post for helping volunteers thrive in moving org mission