Micro-credentials for Professional Learning FAQs

What does self-paced, asynchronous mean?

You will be able to complete the work at your own pace, in your own time. There are no required meetings, face-to-face or online.

What does facilitated mean?

An educator, who is an expert in the topic, will be providing feedback and guiding you as you work through the modules in the Full Micro-credentials. The role of the facilitator is to work along-side you and offer help as needed.

What does non-facilitated mean?

For just-in-time learning, we have developed automatic feedback in our Stacked Micro-credentials to support you as you move through the content. There is no facilitator providing feedback within the Stacked Micro-credentials, allowing you to learn and grow beyond the standard enrollment periods. 

Why are there start and end dates for the Full Micro-credentials?

The Full Micro-credentials are facilitated. Our expert facilitators are only available for a limited time though you will have access to the platform and content beyond the start and end dates.

How much time will a micro-credential take?

Each Full Micro-credential requires approximately 15 hours of self-paced work. Each Stacked Micro-credential requires approximately 5 hours of self-paced work. Time commitments for the CEUs for Edcamps and Conferences are dependent on the specific event.

Can the micro-credentials be completed by someone who is not currently in a classroom or teaching?

The Full and Stacked Micro-credentials were designed for educators, but you don't have to have your own classroom to successfully complete any of them. Each Full and Stacked Micro-credential is competency-based, which means you create a project to be integrated into your professional learning environment. This can include classrooms, but also includes the working environments of educators in non-classroom roles, such as school and district-level administrators, academic deans, para-educators, etc. It is up to you to determine at what level and how you want to integrate the tools and then build content around your vision.

How tech-savvy do I need to be?

Although various technology tools are utilized throughout our Full and Stacked Micro-credentials, we carefully chose tools for ease of use for our participants and for integration into K-12 learning environments. We support any technology needs that arise through the micro-credential and provide support documents and videos on how to use the tools. In our Full Micro-credentials, our facilitators are also available to work with you on an individual basis depending on your needs with any of the tools within the micro-credential.

Are there any hidden fees?

The registration cost ($175 for a Full Micro-credential, $50 for a Stacked Micro-credential, and $25 for a CEU for Edcamps and Conferences) is the only fee you will have to pay. All of the content and materials you need are located in Loyola's continuing education platform and are included in the registration cost. Any technology tools you need to use as part of the micro-credential are free or can be used within the free version.

How do I get recertification credit?

Full Micro-credentials

Each Full Micro-credential has been approved by MSDE for one Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Credit. At the successful completion of the Full Micro-credentials, each participant will receive a Continuing Education Certificate awarded by Loyola University Maryland and an MSDE Continuing Professional Development Completion for Credit Form for recertification if they are in Maryland or Maryland certified.

Stacked Micro-credentials

Stacked Micro-credentials build upon one another. Currently, they have not yet been approved by MSDE for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Credit. At the successful completion of each Stacked Micro-credentials, each participant will receive a badge for their Stacked Continuing Education Certificate awarded by Loyola University Maryland.

CEUs for Edcamps & Conferences

After you have completed the necessary steps to qualify for a CEU certificate, your attendance and reflection will be reviewed for completion. At successful completion, a certificate of CEUs will be emailed to you.

What does 'successful completion' mean?

We use a Met/Not Met system. If you create something that is considered 'Not Met,' you will receive feedback on what changes you need to implement to move your product to 'Met.' You will then have time to make revisions and resubmit your product for further review.

Full Micro-credentials

Our facilitators will review all work and assignments you submit, ensuring that achieving a micro-credential certificate represents a meaningful early step on the path to accomplished teaching. 

Stacked Micro-credentials

You will receive automatic feedback and have the opportunity for reflective activities. These activities are reviewed prior to distribution of a certificate to ensure that achieving a micro-credential certificate represents a meaningful early step on the path to accomplished teaching. 

CEUs for Edcamps & Conferences

Your attendance to the event and reflection will be reviewed to ensure that the requirements have been met for credit and the certificate represents a meaningful early step on the path to accomplished teaching.

Expand your skills

For questions or more information about Loyola's Micro-credentials for Professional Learning, contact Irene Bal, lecturer in Educational Technology, at iabal@loyola.edu or 410-617-1561.

Register for Micro-credentials