SIM Micro-credentials: FAQ
DO I HAVE TO EARN THE PROFESSIONAL LEARNING LEVEL 1 AND FIDELITY OF IMPLEMENTATION LEVEL 2 CREDENTIALS TO EARN A SPECIALIST LEVEL 3 CREDENTIAL SO THAT I CAN TEACH OTHER TEACHERS?
No. An individual interested in SIM micro-credentials is not required to earn a Professional Learning and Fidelity of Implementation credential in order to earn a Specialist credential in a strategy or routine. That said, the individual must show evidence of fidelity of implementation as part of the necessary evidence to earn a Specialist credential.
I WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH A SIM PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPER TO IMPROVE MY SIM KNOWLEDGE. HOW CAN I FIND ONE NEAR ME?
Email simpd@ku.edu to request information about SIM Professional Developers near you.
HOW CAN I OBTAIN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN MORE LEARNING STRATEGIES OR CONTENT ENHANCEMENT ROUTINES?
SIM Professional Developers across the country offer professional learning sessions in various Strategic Instruction Model tools throughout the year, and some choose to post them on the SIM National Events Calendar. Check here for a list. You also may email simpd@ku.edu to request information about SIM Professional Developers near you.
HOW CAN SIM MICRO-CREDENTIALS BE USED?
In the work place, they are added to a Mozilla Backpack, Facebook, Linked In, Twitter, other social media platform, or school or classroom website to publicly display SIM skills and knowledge.
In formal education, they are useful in vitae/resume building and for in-service recognition.
Socially, they can be shared with colleagues and with the SIM Network to build informal, professional communities of interest and learning.
HOW DO I POST EVIDENCE ON THE BADGE?
Badge List provides a place to organize evidence of your work. You may choose to type that evidence directly into a “Required Evidence” section (as when you post the name of your professional developer or a description or narrative about your work), but much of your evidence will be stored elsewhere (longer documents, video, pdf documents, images, spreadsheets, etc.) and linked into your badge.
Video: Upload video to a cloud-hosting site like Vimeo, or YouTube using privacy settings that provide a private link to view the video, keeping it unlisted on the public website. You will then post the link to that video in the evidence section, along with any comments you wish to include.
Documents, Image files, spreadsheets, PDF files, etc: You will upload your document, image file, pdf, spreadsheet, etc. to a cloud-hosting site. You will then post the link in the evidence section, along with any comments you wish to include. We have found Google Drive to be a really simple tool for accomplishing this, but Drop Box or File Dropper or any file storage site that gives you a link to your file will work.
To use Google Drive to post documents, images , spreadsheets, pdf, etc.:
- Open Google Drive
- Hit the red “New” button
- Select “File Upload” and choose the file you wish to upload
- Click on “Share”
- Get Shareable Link
- Paste the link into your evidence section along with any comments you wish to include.
Contact simpd@ku.edu with questions.
WHAT DOES IT COST TO EARN A SIM MICRO-CREDENTIAL?
- Level 1 Professional Learning (PL) Micro-credential: $10
- Level 2 Fidelity of Implementation (FI) Micro-credential: $40
- Level 3 Specialist Micro-credential (S): $100
- Level 4 Professional Developer Micro-credential: $50/year (part of SIM Professional Developers’ Strateworks membership)
- Level 5 Professional Development Leader Micro-credential: $50/year (part of SIM Professional Developers’ Strateworks membership)
Costs for coaching/guidance from a SIM Professional Developer are separate. KUCRL is not involved in arranging for or negotiating these fees.
WHAT WILL I BE ABLE TO DO AS A “SPECIALIST” IN A SPECIFIC STRATEGY OR ROUTINE?
Only a Specialist credential holder or SIM Professional Developer may purchase materials and provide instruction in SIM strategies and routines. Specialists can purchase materials and provide instruction in only those strategies or routines for which they have received a credential. Specialists will have access to professional development tools available for those strategies and routines.
WHY DID KUCRL DEVELOP THE SIM MICRO-CREDENTIAL SYSTEM?
The KUCRL has developed a micro-credentialing system that can augment the SIM certification structure. Using a service called BadgeList.com, the KUCRL can issue micro-credentials, or badges, to recognize different levels of SIM knowledge. These micro-credentials (see Anatomy of a Credential/Badge) are not just pictures of badges. Each micro-credential graphic is a link to an online portfolio that displays detailed evidence that illustrates what the holder of the credential can do.
The micro-credential can be made public via LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, or a Mozilla Backpack. Schools and teachers can feature micro-credentials on their websites. The badge URL can be shared on vitae and resumes. The micro-credentialing system recognizes individuals’ efforts and promotes the continuation and spread of SIM within a school or system to preserve students’ continued access to the SIM evidence-based interventions and tools that can make a difference in their school and life success.
Professionals can earn a credential for any of the SIM tools. A learner’s participation, gathered evidence and examples, and coaching from a SIM Professional Developer can lead to expert implementation and a micro-credential or badge. The badge icon serves as external proof of knowledge and skills gained by the educator.