Micro-Credentials

IMPACT's micro-credentials are a competency-based model of professional development providing educators skills and strategies to more effectively meet the needs of their students. Micro-credentials typically take between five and 10 hours, whereas a typical college course may last 14 weeks. Each micro-credential is broken down into four segments, called modules. The roadmap below provides an excellent visual to help you understand the expectations of the micro-credential.

Micro-credentials are learner-centered, so you decide how much time to spend in each module. Within each module, a main objective is taught by direct instruction, followed by guided practice and an assessment, allowing you to learn and then apply the skill before moving on to the next module. When competency of a skill is demonstrated by a score of at least 80% on the assessment, a digital badge is earned. At the end of the micro-credential, you must earn at least an 80% on the summative assessment to be given an Award of Completion. The Award of Completion notes the number of hours earned. And, you can earn one graduate credit for the successful completion of any five micro-credentials.

ASSET roadmap to guide learners through the modules of the micro-credential

 

 

 

 

The roadmap gives a high-level overview of the micro-credential's modules and topics. Modules are the building blocks of the micro-credentials.

Once in our learning management system, you can click on the roadmap elements to expand and collapse modules. You may also navigate directly to pages, activities or assessments.

How does IMPACT develop its curriculum?

Radford University’s IMPACT's program provides self-paced, competency-based, online professional development to help teachers meet the needs of all students in today’s increasingly challenging classrooms. We know you are working with a wide range of learning needs in your classrooms. And, who has time to dig through a wide range of practices in order to figure out what works? We do!

The IMPACT's team has hand-picked the most effective tools and resources from the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) practice guides.

Learn more about the Competencies and Objectives [PDF] addressed in each IMPACT micro-credential.

IMPACT's Available Micro-Credentials:

Puzzle pieces show how DI, UDL and RTI/MTSS fit together, under the umbrella of inclusion

Effective Instruction for Inclusive Classrooms

This micro-credential is designed to help you help all of your students access your instruction, including math!  After a review of inclusion in U.S. public education, you will learn how you can use UDL, DI, and RTI/MTSS to improve learning outcomes for all students during math instruction.

Availability: Available Now

Intended Audience:   All Elementary Teachers           
Length of Time: Approximately 10 hours   
Difficulty Level: Low
Research Foundation: WWC Practice Guide: Assisting Students Struggling with Mathematics: Response to Intervention (RtI) for Elementary and Middle Schools*

A number line, counting bears, and fraction circles are visual manipulatives that often help learners with word problems.

Elementary Math: Making Sense of Word Problems

This micro-credential is designed to help you learn about tools and strategies to address common challenges with teaching word problems among a diverse set of learners.
You will examine categories and subcategories of word problems based on the structures provided by Cognitively Guided Instruction (CGI).

Availability: Available Now

Intended Audience:   Elementary Math Teachers           
Length of Time: Approximately 10 hours   
Difficulty Level: Medium
Research Foundation: WWC Practice Guide: Improving Mathematical Problem Solving in Grades 4 through 8*

Elementary Math: Making Sense of Fractions

The image reflects the three tiers of classroom management that will be explained in Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS).

This micro-credential is designed to help you learn about tools and strategies to address common challenges with teaching fractions among a diverse set of learners. You will examine how to integrate fractions at multiple grade levels, common methods for integrating manipulatives, and how to create appropriate questions related to the use of fractions in the real world.

Availability:  Available Now

Intended Audience: Elementary Math Teachers
Length of Time: Approximately 10 hours
Difficulty Level: Medium
Research Foundation: WWC Practice Guides: Developing Effective Fractions Instruction for grades K through 8*

A graphic displaying fractions, decimals and percents as the base scaffold layer leading to equivalent fractions and algebra at the top

Elementary Math: Number Sense

This micro-credential is designed to demonstrate the importance of number sense as a foundation upon which future math is built. You will learn about the developmental progression of number sense, strategies for cultivating number sense in your students, and recommendations for expanding instruction time for meeting the needs of your math students.

Availability: Available Now

Intended Audience:  Elementary Math Teachers         
Length of Time: Approximately 10 hours   
Difficulty Level: Medium
Research Foundation: WWC Practice Guide: Teaching Math to Young Children and Organizing Instruction and Study to Improve Student Learning*

The image shows two measuring cups filled half way. One cup shows 1/2, the other shows 0.5, and there is an equal sign between the two cups.

Elementary Math: Number Relationships

This micro-credential will allow you to introduce the concept that numbers can be represented in different ways. You will learn about the relationship between fractions and decimals by using the number line as a tool to compare fraction and decimal values. You will also review research on formative assessment to learn how you can use a variety of methods to check student understanding and increase student achievement.

Availability: Available Now

Intended Audience:  Elementary Math Teachers         
Length of Time: Approximately 10 hours   
Difficulty Level: Low
Research Foundation: WWC Practice Guides: Teaching Math to Young Children and
Organizing Instruction and Study to Improve Student Learning* and the Association of Mathematics
Teacher Educators (AMTE)

Elementary Math: Number Operations

EMNO-01

This micro-credential provides you with tools and strategies to develop and strengthen your students' abilities to apply number operations. You will examine multiple methods students may use when adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing, and recommended pedagogy to support them as they learn and put meaning to the operations.

Availability:  Available Now

Intended Audience: Elementary Math Teachers
Length of Time: Approximately 10 hours
Difficulty Level: Medium
Research Foundation: WWC Practice Guide: Improving Mathematical Problem Solving in Grades 4 through 8*

 

The image displays the relationship between one batch of cookies and its ingredients compared to three batches of cookies and ingredients.

Elementary Math: Progression Towards Proportional Reasoning

This micro-credential will allow you to explore how the progression of elementary mathematics
concepts leads to the introduction of proportional reasoning.  You will also learn how to solve ratio and proportion problems and how to select appropriate strategies when teaching ratio and proportion problems.

Availability: Available Now

Intended Audience:   Upper Elementary and Middle Grades Math Teachers           
Length of Time: Approximately 10 hours   
Difficulty Level: High
Research Foundation: WWC Practice Guide: Improving mathematical problem solving in grades 4 through 8*

Elementary Math: Integrating Algebraic Thinking

The image shows two measuring cups filled half way. One cup shows 1/2, the other shows 0.5, and there is an equal sign between the two cups.

This micro-credential examines research-based recommendations for integrating algebraic thinking into elementary math and provides educators with an introduction to key algebraic concepts. You will learn strategies for shaping your current instructional practices to allow for the integration of algebraic terminology, discussions, and thinking that will lead to greater levels of success in formal algebraic understanding in the upper grades. 

Availability:  Available Now

Intended Audience: Elementary Math Teachers 
Length of Time: Approximately 10 hours
Difficulty Level: Medium
Research Foundation: WWC Practice Guide: Teaching Strategies for Improving Algebra Knowledge in Middle
and High School Students and Improving Mathematical Problem Solving in Grades 4 Through 8

Elementary Math: Foundations of Geometry

The image shows two measuring cups filled half way. One cup shows 1/2, the other shows 0.5, and there is an equal sign between the two cups.

In this micro-credential, you will learn about the fundamentals of geometry and measurement. You will be presented with explanations on the concepts of geometry that are taught throughout elementary school, and you will learn research-based strategies for teaching your students about these concepts. You will also learn about the van Hiele levels of development in geometry.

Availability:  Available Now

Intended Audience: Elementary Math Teachers 
Length of Time: Approximately 10 hours
Difficulty Level: Medium
Research Foundation: WWC Practice Guide: Teaching Math to Young Children

Elementary Math: Foundations of Visual Representations and Manipulatives (VRM)

The image shows two measuring cups filled half way. One cup shows 1/2, the other shows 0.5, and there is an equal sign between the two cups.

This micro-credential examines what constitutes VRM and appropriate uses of VRM in elementary mathematics. You will also learn the process for how to create lesson activities that effectively incorporate VRM into instruction. Finally, you will explore one of the most powerful virtual manipulatives, GeoGebra.

Availability:  Available Now

Intended Audience: Elementary Math Teachers 
Length of Time: Approximately 10 hours
Difficulty Level: Medium
Research Foundation: WWC Practice Guide: Organizing Instruction and Study to Improve Student Learning and Improving Mathematical Problem Solving in Grades 4 Through 8

Elementary Literacy: Overview of Literacy

The image is of a girl writing surrounded by books, comics, video game controller, and a tablet.

In this micro-credential you have opportunities to dig deeply into the significant body of research that informs what we CAN do for struggling readers in inclusive classrooms. You will review resources and information from the last two decades of research on effective literacy instruction for all learners and create your personal philosophy of literacy instruction to use in your own classroom.

Availability: Available Now

Intended Audience:  All Elementary General Education and Special Education Teachers
Length of Time: Approximately 10 hours
Difficulty Level: Low
Research Foundation: WWC Practice Guide, Foundational Skills to Support Reading for Understanding in Kindergarten Through 3rd Grade; Report of the National Reading Panel:
Teaching Children to Read; International Literacy Association

The image is of a girl writing surrounded by books, comics, video game controller, and a tablet.

Elementary Literacy: Strategies for Struggling Readers

In this micro-credential, you will learn about the key skills that all students must master to become proficient readers. You will be provided with research-based enhancements that make reading instruction more inclusive, and you will learn real world examples of how to make the instruction more systematic and explicit.

Availability: Available Now

Intended Audience:  All Elementary General Education and Special Education Teachers
Length of Time: Approximately 10 hours
Difficulty Level: Medium
Research Foundation: WWC Practice Guide, Foundational Skills to Support Reading for Understanding in Kindergarten Through 3rd Grade; Report of the National Reading Panel:
Teaching Children to Read; International Literacy Association

Classroom Management: Foundations of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS)

The image reflects the three tiers of classroom management that will be explained in Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS).

This micro-credential introduces a three-tiered framework of classroom management that creates environments where successful learning experiences are highly probable for K-12 students. You will learn about the foundation of PBIS and the research that supports this approach to classroom management. To support an understanding of PBIS in your classroom, multiple classroom management strategies are provided that translate research into real-world classroom practice.

Availability:  Available Now

Intended Audience:  K-12 General Education, Special Education, and Career and Technical Education Teachers
Length of Time: Approximately 10 hours
Difficulty Level: Low
Research Foundation: Institute of Education Sciences, What Works Clearinghouse Practice Guides: (1) Reducing Behavior Problems in the Elementary School Classroom, (2) Preventing Dropout in Secondary Schools, (3) Organizing Instruction and Study to Improve Student Learning, and (4) Dropout Prevention;
PBIS evaluation and quasi-experimental studies cited by the PBIS OSEP Technical Assistance Center.

Classroom Management: Tier 1 PBIS

The image reflects the three tiers of classroom management that will be explained in Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS).

This micro-credential is designed to help you learn how to implement Tier 1 systems of support in your classroom and school-wide. The micro describes both how to collect and utilize data to make PBIS decisions. It also addresses how to integrate trauma-informed practices into the Tier 1 PBIS framework.

Availability:  Available Now

Intended Audience: K-12 General Education, Special Education, and Career and Technical Education teachers
Length of Time: Approximately 10 hours
Difficulty Level: Medium
Research Foundation: WWC Practice Guide: Reading Behavior Problems in the Elementary School Classroom, PBIS evaluation and quasi-experimental studies cited by the PBIS OSEP Technical Assistance Center*

Classroom Management: Tier 2 PBIS for Students at Risk

The image reflects the three tiers of classroom management that will be explained in Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS).

In this micro-credential, you will gain an understanding of how to implement Tier 2 PBIS at the school-wide and classroom. You will also learn how to integrate trauma-informed practices into the Tier 2 PBIS framework.

Availability:  Available Now

Intended Audience: K-12 General Education, Special Education, and Career and Technical Education teachers
Length of Time: Approximately 10 hours
Difficulty Level: Medium
Research Foundation: WWC Practice Guide: Reading Behavior Problems in the Elementary School Classroom, PBIS evaluation and quasi-experimental studies cited by the PBIS OSEP Technical Assistance Center*

IMPACT micro-credentials can be used in certain states, districts and counties for professional development points, which may be used towards licensure renewal. However, as each state has specific policies guiding criteria for professional development and license renewal, there is no guarantee that your state will give you credit for IMPACT micro-credentials. It is the responsibility of the individual participating teacher to verify that IMPACT micro-credentials can be used for this purpose.

 

The IMPACT K-12 Education program is funded through the U.S. Department of Education Supporting Effective Educator Development (SEED) grant program (Award #: U423A170051).

* All Institute for Education Sciences (IES) What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) Practice Guides can be accessed at https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/PracticeGuides