Develop Skills for Success & Competencies

Micro-credentials recognize a learner’s successful completion of educational activities that lead to professional skills and competencies. Micro-credentials can be earned in a shorter time frame than traditional academic credit and can be granted for any kind of learning initiative. 

One survey noted that 75% of employers found resumes failed to showcase soft skills. Employers are 72% more likely to hire a candidate who has earned a micro-credential.

  • A micro-credentials is a micro-sized bit of education in a specific field or skill typically in a digital format that recognizes a learner’s successful completion of educational activities that lead to professional skills and competencies. Radow College supports a variety of micro-credential opportunities!

  • Please see our series of Level I badges focused on your financial health, supported by the Merlin Wealth Management Gift for Financial Education. 

    Merlin Wealth Management Financial Education

Skills for Success

A series focused on the main skills employers identified as most needed, supported and developed by the Office of Academic Innovation in the Radow College. 

  • five blue squares representing badges in critical thinking

    • Introduction to Problem Solving - Level 1 Badge
    • Introduction to Inquiry and Analysis - Level 1 Badge
    • Introduction to Analytical Thinking - Level 1 Badge
    • Introduction to Creative Thinking - Level 1 Badge
    • Complete all to earn a Practiced Digital Certificate in Critical Thinking

  • five green squares representing badges in communication

    • Foundational Written Communication - Level 1 Badge
    • Foundational Intercultural Communication - Level 1 Badge
    • Foundational Oral Communication - Level 1 Badge
    • Foundational Digital Communication - Level 1 Badge
    • Complete all to earn a Practiced Digital Certificate in Foundational Communication

  • five orange squares representing badges in information literacy

    • Fundamentals of Online Research - Level 1 Badge
    • Introduction to Media Literacy - Level 1 Badge
    • Introduction to the Ethical Use of Information - Level 1 Badge
    • Introduction to Identifying Bias - Level 1 Badge
    • Complete all to earn a Practiced Digital Certificate in Information Literacy Skills

  • four yellow squares representing badges in community engagement

    • Introduction to Civic Engagement - Level 1 Badge
    • Introduction to Community Engagement Planning - Level 1 Badge
    • Introduction to Environmental Sustainability - Level 1 Badge
    • Complete all to earn a Practiced Digital Certificate in Community Engagement

  • four orange-red squares representing badges in workplace relationship building

    • Introduction to Teamwork - Level 1 Badge
    • Perspective Taking - Level 1 Badge
    • Persuasion - Level 1 Badge
    • Complete all to earn a Practiced Digital Certificate in Workplace Relationship Building

  • four purple squares representing badges in workplace skills

    • Time Management - Level 1 Badge
    • Introduction to Ethical Judgement & Reasoning - Level 1 Badge
    • Introduction to Data Management - Level 1 Badge
    • Complete all to earn a Practiced Digital Certificate in Workplace Skills

 

Skills for Success

A series focused on the main skills employers identified as most needed, supported and developed by the Office of Academic Innovation in the Radow College. 

  • five blue squares representing badges in critical thinking
    • Introduction to Problem Solving - Level 1 Badge
    • Introduction to Inquiry and Analysis - Level 1 Badge
    • Introduction to Analytical Thinking - Level 1 Badge
    • Introduction to Creative Thinking - Level 1 Badge
    • Complete all to earn a Practiced Digital Certificate in Critical Thinking
  • five green squares representing badges in communication
    • Foundational Written Communication - Level 1 Badge
    • Foundational Intercultural Communication - Level 1 Badge
    • Foundational Oral Communication - Level 1 Badge
    • Foundational Digital Communication - Level 1 Badge
    • Complete all to earn a Practiced Digital Certificate in Foundational Communication
  • four yellow squares representing badges in community engagement
    • Introduction to Civic Engagement - Level 1 Badge
    • Introduction to Community Engagement Planning - Level 1 Badge
    • Introduction to Environmental Sustainability - Level 1 Badge
    • Complete all to earn a Practiced Digital Certificate in Community Engagement
  • four orange-red squares representing badges in workplace relationship building
    • Introduction to Teamwork - Level 1 Badge
    • Perspective Taking - Level 1 Badge
    • Persuasion - Level 1 Badge
    • Complete all to earn a Practiced Digital Certificate in Workplace Relationship Building
  • four purple squares representing badges in workplace skills
    • Time Management - Level 1 Badge
    • Introduction to Ethical Judgement & Reasoning - Level 1 Badge
    • Introduction to Data Management - Level 1 Badge
    • Complete all to earn a Practiced Digital Certificate in Workplace Skills
infographic steps to show micro-credentials

Once you Learn and Earn: Show Employers your Micro-credentials!

Step One: Find your Credentials
Each Kennesaw State University badge you earn will appear in your personal Canvas Badges Backpack.

Step Two: Update Your Resume
In your backpack, select the badge and click the Share button. Paste the link into your resume.

Step Three: Share Online
in your backpack, select the badge and click the Share button. Choose the "Social" tab and select where you wish to share your badge. 

Step Four: Tell Your Story
Demonstrate what you have achieved to employers: the skills learned, the experience you earned, and how you have shown your expertise.

Step Five: Continue to Earn and Learn
Stay active in building your skills. New Micro-credentials are being added so check back often!

Micro-credential Faculty Frequently Asked Questions

  • Use this fillable worksheet for assisting with outlining the process. Please reach out to the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs before submitting any credential! 

    Please see the overview of the process. 

  • The credential can be awarded by faculty or staff who have been trained in the Canvas Credential system. As this can be a timely process, the Office of Academic Innovation has developed a process which allows students to submit for a credential and staff in the office to award it.
  • Currently there are two levels of badges and two levels of certificates.

    Level I badges document introduction to skills and competencies gained from opportunities for personal, career, and professional development. Level I Badges should demonstrate learning, but not mastery, and involve practicing skills and competencies in a simulated environment. 

    Level I badges can be "stacked" together into a Practiced Digital Certificate  that demonstrate that a learner  qualified and capable of employing a collection of competencies or industry standards in professional environments.

    Level II badges document skills and competencies that have professional and career value. Learner activities should demonstrate the mastery of skills and competencies and take place in professional environments. Level II Badges require artifact(s) be submitted and assessed.

    Level II badges can be "stacked" together into an Expert Digital Certificate. 

    More information can be found in the Micro-Credential Guide.

  • The ideological goals that guided our conceptualization were based on the AAC&Us findings in its 2021 report, “How College Contributes to Workforce Success,” which noted that “Employers do not believe most graduates possess the level of preparedness need for workforce success.” The elements that many employers identified as “very important,” focused on skills rather than subject matter expertise.

    In addition to focus on career preparedness, we wanted to ensure that what our college offers is available to all students on campus as the value of these workforce readiness skills transcends any single major. We also wanted to ensure that there was a way for students to progress and scaffold their skills, so they could demonstrate a range of knowledge and a clear level of expertise.

    In addition, employers increasingly recognize and value industry micro-credentials as Digital Badges offer an evidence based record of  student achievements that can help them demonstrate their workforce readiness and set them apart from others.

  • You can use a micro-credential in your class in courses two ways:

    1) Download the badge module as a SCORM file and import it into your D2L course shell. Please follow this Guide for Accessing and Importing a SCORM file into Your Course. See the SCORM file links above. 
    or
    2) Copy the direct link from OwlTrain (Percipio) to a specific module and embed that into your D2L shell. You can also embed a link directly into your syllabus, assignments, or other materials. If you need access to a SCORM file, please reach out to the OAI email address OAI@kennesaw.edu

  • No, these are focused on skill or competencies. They are not academic credentials.