As part of a growing movement to document students’ skills and knowledge, a variety of providers — MOOCs, private companies, industry groups, colleges themselves — are offering new types of credentials. They include badges, certificates, and microdegrees. Some are offered at no cost, while others require a fee or are part of a tuition-based program. Here’s a visual sampling.
THOSE WHO TAKE FREE MOOCS through Coursera can pay a fee that varies by course ($29 to $100) to get a certificate, which means Coursera has confirmed the student’s identity and participation.
KHAN ACADEMY offers free online instructions, videos, and exercises, and allows visitors to earn six levels of badges for mastering progressively difficult skills.
DEGREED provides a free online platform that lets people track what they’ve learned online, whether through traditional college courses or informally from a TED talk or newspaper article.
LIPSCOMB UNIVERSITY’S “Active Listening” badge is awarded to students who show competency in such activities as recognizing verbal and nonverbal cues and paraphrasing.
THE COUNCIL FOR AID TO EDUCATION awards three level of “Written Communication/Critical Thinking” badges to students who have demostrated proficiency on its Collegiate Learning Assessment Plus exam. The $35 test fee is usually covered by colleges that administer the test.
STUDENTS CAN EARN noncredit gardening credentials through the Colorado State University Extension Certified Gardener Mastery Badge Program. Trek badges covering a particular skill cost $40 and can be grouped to earn Quest badges, which lead to a Mastery Badge. Tuition for all courses leading to the Mastery Badge is $654 (less if courses are bundled).
LYNDA.COM is an online library that offers video tutorials in many business skills (starting at $25 a month). Users earn certificates that they can share online on websites and social-networking sties.
