~Lalit Kishore
Short note
The job-requirements and hiring practices have changed a lot in all institutions and organizations due to the use of the digital technologies and market economy. This requires specific skilling courses along with routine academic courses. It has been proposed that micro-credentials are short-duration skills or competency based learning activities leading to specific skilling outcomes should now be the part of the education system. Presently, the new types of jobs and businesses are prioritizing skills over degrees.
It is being emphasised by the CBSE and UGC to enhance students’ employability by incorporating micro-credentials or short-duration pro-employability skilling courses validating specific skills in demand.
The educational institutions are being asked o bridge the gap between conventional academic education and current job requirements. Many edcators feel that develop and implement of micro-credentials skilling courses 12 to 24 hours. Many market players, industrial units, technological enterprises, colleges, universities and schools are shifting towards micro-credential courses globally.
In India too, a beginning has been made by creating National Credit Framework (NCrF) that outlines the learning outcomes, competencies and credits for progression through education through various modes but with a quality benchmarking through criterion-referenced formative assessment.
ABCs of microcredentials
A: Attainment of daily learning demonstrated at mastery level as successful learnership through teacher made learning sheets with teacher-learner; learner-learner and learner-material segments
B: Break up curriculum into weekly course-wares or learning packages created and transacted as 1 credit point courses at the institutional level to be practical and ease of institutionalize the credits assessment system
C: Credit score or credit-points and grading as earned competencies for the academic session may be calculated on the policy prescribed scale using unitary method for certification
D: Designing micro-credentials based instruction is challenge for the schools and teachers since they are needed to be oriented, trained and supported to prepare material and transact the course with acquired new skills at mastery level
E: Evaluation of students, teachers and management should be of 360 degree for the competencies required for successful designing, implementing and supporting the approach along with some school level research for tracking impact on classroom practice and learning outcomes of students.
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