Abstract
Over the past 5 years (2016-2021) the Association of Independent School Admission Professionals (AISAP) has engaged in a process of expanding their professional learning and credentialing opportunities for membership. Beginning in 2016, AISAP decided to leverage recent innovations in learning sciences, digital badging, and credentialing to greatly increase the professional learning and assessment experience of its membership. Thus, AISAP embarked upon a process of developing a robust micro-credentialing program and an online credentialing exam which are authentic, accurate, accessible, and add value to participants. This case study provides an overview of the institutional context and purpose of these solutions and then details the process of designing, implementing, and continuously improving these solutions. The case also includes a number of lessons learned and accompanying resources which may be relevant to other organizations considering, or in the midst of, developing similar solutions.
TopIntroduction
The Association of Independent School Admission Professionals (AISAP) is the primary resource and leading advocate for the community of PK-12 independent school admission and enrollment management professionals. To best meet its mission of supporting and advancing those involved in admission and enrollment management, AISAP continuously strives to offer robust and transformative professional learning experiences that educate, elevate and empower admission professionals throughout their professional pathway. Since 2016, AISAP has been working to integrate three new offerings into its suite of learning opportunities: certificates, micro-credentials, and an online credentialing exam. The proposed case study will focus on two of these solutions, micro-credentials and the online credentialing exam, and address the following:
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The importance of institutional context and purpose of solutions
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Key features of micro-credentials and credentialing exam
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Design and implementation of micro-credentials and credentialing exam
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Lessons learned in design, development, and implementation
Addressing these topics will demonstrate how AISAP has leveraged recent advancements in learning sciences, digital badging, and credentialing to develop robust and transformative professional learning and assessment solutions for its membership. The section highlighting lessons learned will provide organizations considering the development of similar solutions with key considerations for achieving the most effective and highest impact professional learning experiences.
TopInstitutional Context And Purpose Of Solutions
The purpose of AISAP’s micro-credentials and the online credentialing exam is to support admission and enrollment management professionals through AISAPs professional learning and development progression. These resources provide pathways for professionals to demonstrate and validate mastery of the Admission and Enrollment Management standards represented in the Learning & Development Professional Framework© as well as the Ethical Behavior and Best Practices Standards identified for the field. Additionally, these solutions provide value through recognition from AISAP that the individual has mastered the standards most important to the profession.
Beginning in 2016, AISAP decided to leverage innovations in learning science and digital badging for the development of micro-credentials focused on specific content areas identified by professionals as particularly complex and challenging to demonstrate mastery. Initially called “Master Classes,” these micro-credentials serve a distinct purpose within AISAP’s learning and development progression: To develop deep and targeted expertise in specific content areas that is verifiable through an assessment of learning and displayed through a transferable digital badge.
In 2018, AISAP began developing a complimentary credentialing exam that provides an opportunity for Admission and Enrollment Management Professionals to verify mastery of all professional standards within the field and obtain a credential. The exam was developed with and for practitioners, and it utilized research-based processes and subject matter experts (current admission and enrollment management professionals) to design and validate multiple-choice items. The credentialing exam serves a distinct purpose within the learning and development progression, by assessing all professional standards, indicating the level of mastery of each, and ultimately verifying mastery through an AISAP credential. Additionally, the exam identifies specific areas for professional growth and equips the professional with the information needed for improvement.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Depth of Knowledge (DOK): Webb’s Depth of Knowledge was created by Norman Webb from the Wisconsin Center for Education Research. Webb’s definition of depth of knowledge is the degree or complexity of knowledge that the content curriculum standards and expectations require and is intended to assist in designing instruction and assessments—including questions.
Admission and Enrollment Management Professional (AEMP): Professional staff at K-12 independent schools responsible for the development and implementation of admission and enrollment policies and practices.
Minimum Viable Product (MVP): A minimum viable product is a product with enough functionality to allow for implementation with a subset of potential users and support gathering feedback to inform product improvement.
Micro-Credential: Micro-credentials are a form of certification earned by demonstrating competency in a specific knowledge or skill. Micro-credentials are often awarded as digital badges, which provide a web-based visual graphic representing the skill or competency earned by the learner for successful demonstration of a knowledge or skill.
Digital Badge: A digital badge is a web-based visual graphic representing the skill or competency earned by the learner for successful demonstration of a knowledge or skill. Often digital badges are awarded as an image file with an embedded code that validates the recipient has demonstrated the skill or competency.
Learning and Development Professional Framework (LDF): The Learning and Development Professional Framework provides professional standards for independent school K-12 Admission and Enrollment Management Professionals. The framework includes the areas of Mission & Demographic Perspective, Professional Behaviors, and Performance Competencies. All of these key areas take place in the Learning and Development Progression.
Association of Independent School Admission Professionals (AISAP): The Association of Independent School Admission Professionals is the primary resource and leading advocate for the community of independent school admission and enrollment management professionals. The mission of AISAP is to support and advance those involved in independent school admission and enrollment management in their responsibilities for advancing the institutional mission and financial sustainability of their respective schools.
Learning Management System (LMS): A LMS is a software that allows organizations to create and manage professional learning experiences and associated assessments of learning.
Subject Matter Expert (SME): A Subject Matter Expert is an individual who exhibits a high level of expertise in a particular content area. AISAP utilized SMEs in the development of content for micro-credentials and items for the credentialing exam.