Sharing Mircro Credentials

 In my role at the FSU Career Center I manage our ProfessioNole Ready Pathways and Badging program and am always looking for ways to promote and improve the program. Thus I was excited to read this week several articles regarding microcredentialing and also microlearning, especially Dr. Dennen's article on Sharing Microlearning Materials as OER. The article points out how microlearning has openned up new avenues for instruction and that already in fields like tech professional development takes place through many channels both informala and formal that are influenced by microlearning. By breaking up larger units of instruction into microelements many of them can be reused in new environments for individuals just wanting to learn one particular skill or needing help in a particular area. These microlearning elements could also be curated and combined into a new instructional unit tailored to a persons unique learning goals. 

In this context where units are being recombined and shared for different purposes it is important to focus on a shared understanding regarding copyright, especially when there are multiple individuals working on the same project. Under an OER mindset the emphasis shifts from ownership to how a resource can best be used. Instead of trying to give educational content in a format that remains the same the openness of the process allows others to adapt and modify it to their needs, while giving credit to the original source. The short nature of the learning environments discussed in this article along with the openness and sharing components provide a way forward that could greatly improve the quality of learning materials.