Microcredentials

WHAT IS A MICROCREDENTIAL?

A microcredential is a small, specialized certification that focuses on a specific skill or competency considered desirable by employers, communities and/or professional organizations. Think of it as a bite-sized qualification that allows individuals to gain expertise in a particular field quickly and efficiently. Microcredentials are designed to support the rapidly evolving needs of industries, providing learners with up-to-date and relevant skills that can enhance their career prospects.

Dal Microcredentials meet specific criteria set by Dalhousie University offering employers a level of assurance that the recipient has successfully demonstrated that skill or competency to a desired specification. Pursuing and recognizing these Dal Microcredentials makes recruitment, hiring and selection processes more efficient.

Critical Thinking

By earning a microcredential, individuals can demonstrate their expertise in a specific area and showcase it using a digital badge that has the Dalhousie University logo. The badge then can be added to a professional resume or an online platform such as Linkedin. 

Dual-branded microcredentials represent learning experiences that meet the criteria of a Dalhousie microcredential but are delivered by an outside organization or employer. These microcredentials have the logo of the partnership organization or business prominently displayed on the digital badge.

HOW ARE MICROCREDENTIALS BENEFICIAL TO LEARNERS?

  • Personalized Upskilling: Choose micro-credentials that focus on specific skills or topics that match your career goals or areas of interest.
  • Practical Skills: Microcredential programs are focused on practical, real-world skills that can be immediately applied in the workplace.
  • Recognition: Dal microcredentials are awarded in the form of digital badges, which can be displayed on resumes, LinkedIn profiles, and other professional networks to showcase a learner's skills and achievements.

HOW ARE MICROCREDENTIALS BENEFICIAL TO EMPLOYERS?

  • Targeted Skills Development: Microcredentials allow employers to provide targeted training to employees in specific areas, improving their skills and knowledge in areas that are directly relevant to the organization's goals and objectives.
  • Identification of Skills: Dal Microcredentials offers employers a level of assurance that the holder of the microcredential is capable of demonstrating the skill or competency making hiring and selection processes more efficient.
  • Competitive Advantage: By investing in microcredential programs, employers can improve their workforce's skills and knowledge, giving them a competitive advantage in the marketplace.     

DAL MICROCREDENTIALS

Applied Adult Learning Theory

Microcredential Description: Earners can apply appropriate adult learning theories to the development of new learning experiences.

Course Name: Theories of Adult Learning
Length: 3 weeks
Delivery Method: Blended (scheduled & self-paced) 
Cost: $650 
Skills: Adult Learning Principles, Adult Learning Theories, Develop Theory of Teaching, Discuss Principles of Adult Learners, Teaching Theory, Theory-informed Practice, UDL, Utilize Guidelines of UDL
Earning Criteria: Earners of this microcredential have successfully designed a short adult learning experience and have identified the relevant learning theories used in their design process.

Designing Evaluation Strategies for Learning Programs

Microcredential Description: Earners of this microcredential can develop an evaluation strategy for a learning program or course using Kirkpatrick's Model of Evaluation.

Course Name: Evaluating Learning
Length: 3 weeks
Delivery: Online - Self-paced
Cost: $650
Skills: Analysis, Assessment, Evaluation, Planning
Earning Criteria: Earners of this microcredential developed an evaluation strategy using the Kirkpatrick Evaluation Template that incorporated four levels of learning (impact, transfer, learning, and reaction) and included data, sources, methods, and timing for each level. This was evaluated by an instructor using a rubric.

Designing an Online Teaching Strategy

Microcredential Description: Earners of this Microcredential can develop an online training strategy to address a teaching challenge that utilizes UDL principles and multiple online tools.

Course Name: Designing and Teaching Online
Length: 2 weeks
Delivery Method: Online - Self-paced
Cost: $650.00
Skills: Communication, Facilitation, Teaching
Earning Criteria: Earners of this Microcredential identified a teaching challenge in an online learning environment and developed a training strategy to address it. The training strategy incorporated a minimum of two UDL principles and two online tools. The strategy was assessed by an instructor using a rubric.
 
 

Inclusive Education Planning

Microcredential Description: Earners can identify various strategies for fostering inclusivity in teaching & learning. This follows self-reflection and analysis of one's own bias, privledge, and barriers.

Course Name: Understanding Diversity and Inclusion
Course Length: 3 weeks
Delivery Method: Blended (scheduled & self-paced)
Cost: $650
Skills: Adult Education, Diversity and Inclusion, Inclusive Teaching
Earning Criteria: Earners of this microcredential have demonstrated the ability to draft a plan which identifies effective and inclusive teaching and learning practices. This is assessed by an instructor for its clarity, choice of techniques, and the rationale of their choices.

Instructional Methods for Adult Learners

Microcredential Description: Earners can identify instructional methods appropriate for a givn situation with adult learners. Participants have extensive knowledge of a variety of instructional methods appropriate for adult instruction.

Course Name: Instructional Methods
Length: 3 weeks
Delivery Method: Blended (scheduled & self-paced)
Cost: $650
Skills: Activities, Adult Education, Facilitation, Instruction, Instructional Methods
Earning Criteria: Earners of this microcredential can identify an appropriate instructional methodology for a given scenario. They have submitted a written assignment outlining: the methodology selected, rationale for their choice, and the appropriate timings for the instruction.

Planning Facilitation with Adult Learners

Microcredential Description: Earners have demonstrated the ability to plan strategies to mitigate challenging behaviors that may occur during facilitation with a group of adults before disruptions happen.

Course Name: Effective Facilitation
Length: 3 weeks
Delivery Method: Blended (scheduled & self-paced)
Cost: $650
Skills: Facilitation, Group Dynamics, Group Formation, Teaching, Training
Earning Criteria: Earners of this microcredential have submitted a plan that outlines strategies for mitigating challenging behaviours that may arise during a facilitation with adults.

Program Design for Adult Learners

Microcredential Description: Earners have the ability to explain and employ the various steps and stages of program design for adult learning contexts. Earners can design effective workshops in both workplace and educational contexts. 

Course Name: Program Design
Length: 3 weeks
Delivery Method: Blended (scheduled & self-paced)
Cost: $650
Skills: Assessment, Evaluation, Needs Assessment, Program Design
Earning Criteria: Earners of this microcredential have demonstrated the ability to design a basic workshop or program that might be needed in their workplace context. Earners have outlined: a needs assessment strategy, learning outcomes, and an assessment plan.

Reconciliation in Practice

Microcredential Description: Earners can identify ways to embed reconciliation inot their personal and professional lives. 

Course Name: Indigenous Teaching and Learning Perspectives
Length: 3 weeks
Delivery Method: Blended (scheduled & self-paced)
Cost: $650
Skills: Reflective Practice, Cultural Literacy, Indigenous Ways of Knowing, Indigenous PRactices, Allyship, Critical Thinking 
Earning Criteria: Earners of this microcredential can identify ways to embed reconciliation inot their personal and professional lives. 

Fish Health Assessment and Diagnostic Procedures

Microcredential Descripton: Through the Faculty of Agriculture, earners have demonstrated the ability to use a health assessment socring matrix and observe fish for their general level of health and welfare. Earners can identify internal anatomy of a fish, identify common fish parasites, and perform a gross fish necropsy. The earner can prepare tissue samples for lab analysis, which involves preserving samples in formalin and may include loading a tissue cassette. 

Course Name: Fish Care and Husbandry in Research Facilities - Module 2
Length: 2 week module/ part of 6 week course
Delivery Method: In-person
Cost: TBD
Skills: Fish Necropsy, Fish Observation, Microscopy, Record Keeping, Tissue Sampling, Use of Welfare Matrix
Earning Criteria: Earners of this Microcredential used a recognized fish health monitoring matrix to assess videos of 3 species showing clinical signs of health concerns and produced a summary of findings. Earners completed a gross fish necropsy and prepared tissue samples for lab analysis. They identified common external parasites and labelled internal anatomy from photographs. Evidence of the necropsy & tissue sample preparation were collected via video (up to 5 min).
(Contact openlearning@dal.ca for more information)

Fish Research Facility and Water Research

Microcredential Description: Through the Faculty of Agriculture, earners have conducted a site and water analysis in a fish research facility, analysed data, and made recommendations to improve water quality, operation, and maintenance of the site for better fish health.

Course Name: Fish Care and Husbandry in Research Facilities - Module 3
Length: 2 week module/ part of a 6 week course
Delivery Method: In-person
Cost: TBD
Skills: Critical Analysis of LSS, Data Analysis, Facility Audit, Water Qualiy Analysis
Earning Criteria: Earners of this microcredential evaluated the physical structure & building components of a fish research facility & made recommendations to improve the operation & maintenance of the site. Earners demonstrated an understanding of tank flows, oxygen balance & waste removal of a fish holding tank. They analysed water quality measurements taken over time, provided a breakdown of the issues, & suggested mitigation strategies. Evidence provided: a checklist, water analysis summary, & recommendations.
(Contact openlearning@dal.ca for more information)

Tractor Safety

Microcredential Description: Through the Faculty of Agriculture, earners are competent in operating a tractor with an attached implement on Nova Scotia roads. The earner can conduct pre-operation checks, attach front and rear-mounted implements, and safely operate a tractor and implement with a combined weight of 14,000 kg or less.

Course Name: Tractor Safety
Length: 2 days
Delivery Method: In-person
Cost: $250
Skills: Attach Implements, Haul Implements, Road Safety, Safe Operation
Earning Criteria: Score grade of at least 70% on final written assessment. 

Earners of this microcredential have scored 70% or higher on two practical driving assessments. They have demonstrated their ability to safely attach an implement, start tractor, drive forward, drive a full course route, stop on a hill, back up with implement attached, park, unhitch and stop tractor.
Standards:
NS Motor Vehicle Act
Forthcoming NS Traffic Safety Act

 

 

 

Assessing Corporate Social Responsibility

Microcredential Description: Earners can assess and make recommendations to improve an organization’s social responsibility, which includes the following: environmental footprint, employee engagement, transparency, waste management, human rights performance, community investment, and responsible supply chain management.

Course Name: Corporate Social Responsibility
Length: 42 hours
Delivery Method: Self-paced
Cost: $899
Skills: Corporate Social Responsibility, Critical Thinking
Earning Criteria: Earners of this microcredential compared and assessed the approaches of two organizations regarding their actions towards corporate social responsibility and sustainability, with a focus on alignment to international agreements and financial impact. Their analysis was evaluated by the course instructor for insightfulness, depth, feasibility, sustainability, and linkages to UN guidelines using a standardized rubric.

Business Case for Diverse Teams

Microcredential Description: Earners have demonstrated the ability to present a business case/rationale for fostering diverse teams in the workplace (as opposed to focusing on homogeneous teams). The case is supported with course readings, personal/professional experiences, and external research.

Course Name: Optimizing Diverse Team Performance  
Length: 3 weeks
Delivery Method: Blended (scheduled & self-paced)
Cost: $650

Developing an Objective-based Marketing Plan

Microcredential Description: Earners can prepare an objective-based marketing plan.

Course Name: Marketing Essentials for Business
Length: 12 weeks
Delivery Method: Blended (scheduled & self-paced)
Cost: $1,045
Skills: Market Assessment, Marketing Planning, Product Development
Earning Criteria: Earners of this microcredential developed a detailed objective-based marketing plan that included a situational analysis, product/service strategy, distribution strategy, and implementation and control strategy. This report was assessed by an instructor using a rubric.

Financial Decision-Making

Microcredential Description: Earners have demonstrated that they can analyze a basic set of financial statements to support organizational decision making.

Course Name: Finance Essentials for Public Sector Leaders
Length: 4 weeks
Delivery Method: Blended (scheduled & self-paced)
Cost: $1,045
Skills: Accounting Literacy, Financial Analysis, Financial Literacy
Earning Criteria: Earners of this microcredential reviewed year-over-year financial statements to identify potential trends and the most critical issues for an organization based on a real scenario. Earners shared their findings in a report which was evaluated by an instructor using a rubric.

 

Developing an Objective-based Marketing Plan

Microcredential Description: Earners of this microcredential can prepare an objective-based marketing plan.

Course Name: Marketing Essentials for Business
Length: 12 weeks
Delivery Method: Online - Self-paced
Cost: $1,045
Skills: Market Assessment, Marketing Planning, Product Development
Earning Criteria: Earners of this microcredential developed a detailed objective-based marketing plan that included a situational analysis, product/service strategy, distribution strategy, and implementation and control strategy. This report was assessed by an instructor using a rubric.

Needs Assessment: Foundations

Microcredential Description: In collaboration wit Nova Scotia Career Development Association, the earner can successfully complete the initial stages of a needs assessment interview, including: appropriate use of verbal and non-verbal communication, strong listening skills, establish rapport and build the working alliance, gather appropriate information, demonstrate questioning skills, and appropriately explain confidentiality.

Course Name: Case Management
Length: 100 hours
Delivery Method: Self-Paced 
Cost: TBD
Skills: Assessment, Effective Questioning, Establish Rapport
Earning Criteria: Earners have recorded the first 10 minutes of a client needs assessment. This involves demonstrating communication skills (non-verbal, verbal, and listening), building the working alliance, and needs assessment skills (questioning, relevant information-gathering). Earners have reviewed the recording and completed a self-evaluation, in addition to receiving written feedback from an instructor.
Standards: The National Competency Profile for Career Development Professionals
(Contact openlearning@dal.ca for more information)

3D Printer and Laser Cutter Safety (Dalhousie Students Only)

Microcredential Description: Through the Faculty of Agriculture, earners have demonstrated adherence to safety procedures at all times while inside the lab area. They can identify, and operate under, any specific safety requirements while using each tool. 

Course Name: Lab Safety
Length: 2 days
Delivery Method: In-person
Cost: Free
Skills: 3D Printer Safety, Laser Cutter Safety, Shop Safety
Earning Criteria: Earners of this Microcredential demonstrated safe handling and use of CNC maker space equipment including 3D printers and laser cutters. Earners scored 85% or higher on an online theory of shop and tool safety quiz. Earners demonstrated safe handling and use (in-person) which was verified by an instructor or lab supervisor.
(Contact openlearning@dal.ca for more information)

Metal Fabrication Equipment Safety (Dalhousie Students Only)

Microcredential Description: Earners have demonstrated adherence to safety procedures at all times while inside the metal lab area. They can identify, and operate under, any specific safety requirements while using each tool.

Course Name: Lab Safety Initiative
Length: 2 days
Delivery Method: In-person
Cost: Free
Skills: Safe Tool Handling, Shop Safety, Shop Skills
Earning Criteria: Earners of this Microcredential demonstrated safe handling and use of metal fabrication tools found in a lab or shop. Earners scored 85% or higher on an online theory of shop and tool safety quiz. Earners demonstrated safe handling and use (in-person) which was verified by an instructor or lab supervisor.
(Contact openlearning@dal.ca for more information)

Microcredential Design (Dalhousie Faculty Only)

Microcredential Description: Earners have demonstrated that they can successfully design a microcredential that aligns to specific criteria set out by Dalhousie University.

Course Name: Microcedentials Training Workshop
Length: 2 days
Delivery Method: Scheduled 
Cost: Free
Skills: Assessment Design, Competency Assessment, Microcredential Design
Earning Criteria: Earners of this badge designed a microcredential that met the strongest criteria (Group A) set out in the Dal Microcredential Approval Rubric. They identified & adequately described a skill/competency that aligns with labour market needs & developed a competency-based assessment strategy. They designed sequential steps that lead to an overall skill/competency. They submitted the design using the Dal Microcredential application, which was assessed through the Dal Microcredential Approval Process.
(Contact openlearning@dal.ca for more information)

Python Foundational Bootcamp (Dalhousie Students Only)

Microcredential Description: Through the Faculty of Engineering, earners have demonstrated Python basic programming skills including converting data types, string manipulation, for & while loops, lambda function, range functions, and generating random integer lists using normal, exponential, and uniform distributions. Earners have demonstrated how to import libraries and use library functions to simplify their Python code. Earners have also demonstrated the ability to clean, modify, and merge data into one uniform data frame.

Course Name: Python Programming Bootcamp 
Length: 2 days
Delivery Method: In-person
Cost: Free
Skills: Data Analysis, Data Wrangling, Math, Object-oriented Programming, Python
Earning Criteria: Earners of the Python Foundational Bootcamp microcredential have successfully submitted portfolio evidence of properly formatted Python code, using markdown text and comments, in Jupyter Notebook. The earner created a list of integers, performed a mathematical operation on each integer and assigned integers to a new list.

Earners of the Python Foundational Bootcamp Microcredential have successfully submitted portfolio evidence of properly formatted Python code in a Jupyter notebook that imported built-in modules to combine files of different formats, eliminated duplicates, and wrote a single CSV file sorted alphabetically by country.
(Contact openlearning@dal.ca for more information)

Woodworking Lab Equipment Safety (Dalhousie Students Only)

Microcredential Description: Through the Faculty of Agriculture, earners have demonstrated knowledge of how to adhere to safety procedures at all times while inside the woodworking lab area. They can identify, and operate under, any specific safety requirements while using each tool.

Course Name: Lab Safety Initiative
Length: 2 days
Delivery Method: In-person
Cost: Free
Skills: Safe Tool Handling, Shop Safety, Shop Skills
Earning Criteria: Earners of this Wood Lab Safety Microcredential demonstrated safe handling and use of woodworking tools found in a lab or shop. Earners scored 85% or higher on an online theory of shop and tool safety quiz. Earners demonstrated safe handling and use (in-person) which was verified by an instructor or lab supervisor.
(Contact openlearning@dal.ca for more information)

Writing for Academic Publication (Dalhousie Faculty Only)

Microcredential Description: Earners have demonstrated their ability to plan and compose a complete, original academic article—or an article section— appropriate for a specific, learner-identified professional media venue.

Course Name: Writing for Academic Publication
Length: 2 days
Delivery Method: TBD
Cost: Free
Skills: Academic Writing Skills, Editing Skills, Genre Analysis
Earning Criteria: Earners of this microcredential planned, composed, revised, and edited an original academic article or article section appropriate for a specific, learner-identified professional media venue. The final version of the article or article section was assessed by a writing and editing professional using a rubric and achieved a B grade or higher on the Dalhousie Grade Scale. Earners achieved a grade of 75% or higher in this course overall.
(Contact openlearning@dal.ca for more information)

Business Case for Diverse Teams

Microcredential Description: Earners have demonstrated an understanding of the ways they can optimize diverse teams contributions to organizational success. This knowledge is developed from group work, simulations, discussions and reflective practice activities.

Course Name: Optimizing Diverse Team Performance
Course Length: 3 weeks
Delivery Method: Self-paced
Cost: $650
Skills: Business Case, Diversity, Team and Organization Development
Earning Criteria: Earners of this microcredential have submitted a business case outlining the need to foster diverse teams in the workplace. The earner has highlighted the benefits, opportunities, and role of leadership in fostering these inclusive teams. Feedback and evaluations were provided by the instructor - a subject matter expert.

EDIA Strategy Implementation

Microcredential Description: Earners have demonstrated the ability to analyze a particular EDIA strategy that can be implemented in the workplace. This analysis is supported by course materials, academic literature, and personal experience.

Course Name: Strategies for Implementing EDI Initiatives
Length: 3 weeks
Delivery Method: Blended (scheduled & self-paced)
Cost: $650
Skills: Analysis, Inclusive Strategies, Strategies, Strategy Implementation
Earning Criteria: Earners of this microcredential have written an analysis detailing: their chosen EDIA strategy, expected outcomes, possible challenges, interventions to handle resistance to the strategy. The analysis is supported with course content, academic literature, and lived experience. Feedback and evaluation is provided by the instructor - a subject matter expert.

Inclusive Communication Analysis

Microcredential Description: Earners have demonstrated the ability to analyze both effective and non-effective strategies for inclusive communications, reflecting on the elements that make successful communication possible.

Course Name: Inclusive Communications in the Workplace
Course Length: 3 weeks
Delivery Method: Blended (scheduled & self-paced)
Cost: $650
Skills: Analysis, Communication, Inclusion
Earning Criteria: Earners of this microcredential submit a written analysis of communication strategies they have witnessed in the workplace, determining their effectiveness in facilitating inclusivity amongst coworkers. Earners identify the necessary elements for inclusive communication strategies. Feedback and evaluations are provided by the instructor - a subject matter expert.

Inclusive Communication Strategies (Available in French)

Microcredential Description: In collaboration with The Idea Practice, earners have demonstrated the ability to select the most appropriate strategy for supporting inclusive communications, given a series of connected scenarios. While the context is workplace communication, this skill is transferable to all other communication settings.

Course Name: Foundations of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Workplace 
Course Length: 8 hours
Delivery Method: Self-paced
Cost: $497
Skills: Communication, Inclusion and Belonging, Inclusive Communication
Earning Criteria: Earners of the microcredential engage with a series of scenarios that describe inclusive communication issues in a workplace setting. Earners identify the most appropriate strategy to implement in each scenario in order to foster an environment that supports inclusive communication. Feedback and rationale are provided throughout each asynchronous scenario activity.

Organizational Inclusion Strategies

Microcredential Description: Earners have demonstrated the ability to recommend strategies that could be used by leaders to foster inclusion in their organizations. They are required to provide rationale for those recommendations.

Course Name: Understanding EDI: An Organization Imperative
Course Length: 3 weeks
Delivery Method: Blended (scheduled & self-paced)
Cost: $650
Skills: Inclusion, Rationale, Strategies
Earning Criteria: Earners of this microcredential submit a written recommendation detailing strategies for fostering inclusive workplaces, and provide a rationale for those choices. Feedback and evaluation is provided by an instructor who is a subject matter expert.

Personal Intercultural Awareness

Microcredential Description: Earners can identify and assess their own intercultural competence and develop strategies  to be more successful as an intercultural communicator in a specific higher education context.

Course Name: Intercultural Communication in a Higher Education Context
Length: 12 hours
Delivery Method: Self-paced
Cost: $575
Skills: Intercultural Communication, Planning, Self Assessment

Earning Criteria: Earners developed a plan to enhance their own intercultural communication competence. They engaged with a series of intercultural scenarios set in an academic setting and identified the differences between specific cultural dimensions. They created a public portfolio that included a personal intercultural skills inventory (with examples from their work & life experiences) and a plan to improve their own competence as an intercultural communicator within their current role in higher education.

Reconciliation in Practice

Microcredential Description: Earners can identify ways to embed reconiliation practices ino their personal and professional lives. 

Course Name: Indigenous Teaching and Learning Perspectives
Length: 3 weeks
Delivery Method: Blended (scheduled & self-paced)
Cost: $650
Skills: Allyship, Critical Thinking, Cultural Literacy, Cultural Literacy, Identification of Colonial Practices, Indigenous Pratcies, Indigenous Ways of Knowing, Reflective Practice
Earning Criteria: Earners of this microcredential completed a capstone project. They identified opportunities and processes to embed reconciliation into their personal and professional lives and prepared a commitment statement to the reconciliation process. These were presented in a 1000-word report which was assessed by an instructor using a rubric. A minimum grade of 80% was achieved.
 

Casino Gaming Investigations

Microcredential Description: Earners can design an investigation unit and an investigation strategy related to money laundering and fraud for the casino gaming industry.

Course Name: Casino Gaming Investigations
Length: 12 weeks
Delivery Method: Blended (scheduled & self-paced)
Cost: $1,045
Skills: Critical Thinking, Presentation, Verbal Communication, Written Communication
Earning Criteria: Earners of this microcredential designed an investigation unit & an investigation strategy around a crime relating to money laundering and fraud in the casino gaming industry. They prepared a 5–10-minute recorded presentation as if presenting to senior level decision makers, as well as a 3000 word report. The report outlined roles within their proposed unit and recommendations on how they would establish compliance. This was evaluated by an instructor using a rubric. A grade of 70% was achieved.

Responsible Gaming and Player Protection Practices

Microcredential Description: Earners of the Responsible Gaming and Player Protection Microcredential can critically assess the state of responsible gaming and player protection in their organization and identify potential improvements.

Course name: Responsible Gaming and Player Protection
Length: 12 hours
Delivery: Online - Self-paced
Cost: $350
Skills: Critical Thinking, Decision Making, Problem Solving
Earning Criteria: Earners critically assessed the provision of responsible gaming within their organization. They identified opportunities to strengthen player protection and responsible gaming practices related to player behaviour, tools, player education, technology, marketing, employee training, community engagement, global activity, and the role of stakeholders. Earners presented their findings in a report (500 words), which was assessed by an instructor using a rubric.
 

Interpersonal and Intercultural Conflict Management Resolution

Microcredential Description: Earners are competent in conducting interviews to make individual and organizational recommendations to resolve interpersonal and intercultural conflict.

Course Name: Interpersonal and Intercultural Communication
Length: 12 weeks
Delivery Method: Blended (scheduled & self-paced)
Cost: $1,045
Skills: Conflict Resolution, Interview Techniques, Non-Verbal Communication, Verbal Communication Skills
Earning Criteria: Earners of this microcredential have conducted a mock interview demonstrating interview techniques for interpersonal and intercultural conflict management. They proposed suitable recommendations for the individual to resolve the workplace conflict and made recommendations to influence organizational policy to address the interpersonal and intercultural conflict. Earners of this microcredential had their interview and recommendations assessed by an instructor using a rubric.

Organizational Design

Microcredential Description: Earners can identify organizational design challenges and assess the impact on individual and team performance.

Course Name: Organizational Behaviour
Length: 12 weeks
Delivery Method: Blended (scheduled & self-paced)
Cost: $1,045
Skills: Critical Analysis, Impact Assessment, Team Dynamics
Earning Criteria: Earners of the Organizational Design microcredential can identify organizational design challenges and assess the impact on individual and team performance.

Performance Coaching

Microcredential Description: Earners are competent in developing a coaching plan to improve individual performance.

Course Name: Coaching Skills for Leaders
Length: 12 weeks
Delivery Method: Blended (scheduled & self-paced)
Cost: $1,045
Skills: Goal Setting, Planning, Skill Development, Skill Recognition
Earning Criteria: Earners of the Performance Coaching microcredential developed a coaching plan to advance the skills of an employee through a given scenario. The earner identified and/or demonstrated all components of the coaching process which included: performance goal(s), an achievement plan, and measures for success. The plan was evaluated by an instructor using a rubric.

Positive Culture Planning

Microcredential Description: Earners are able to develop an action plan with strengths-based strategies to influence positive change in a workplace setting.

Course Name: Adaptation of Positive Psychology Principles in Organizations and Teams
Length: 5 weeks
Delivery Method: Scheduled
Cost: $795

Strategic Public Communication Planning for Leaders

Microcredential Description: Earners have the ability to think strategically about public communications on behalf of an organization. The earner can devise effective public communications for an organization, including addressing specific public communication needs and utilizing communication tactics to reach that audience.

Course Name: Strategic Communications
Length: 12 weeks
Delivery Method: Blended (scheduled & self-paced)
Cost: $1,045
Skills: Communications Goal Setting
Earning Critera: The earner has authored a public communications plan for an organization about a project, initiative, or issue. This process involves documenting what needs to be communicated, what publics need to be reached, and the strategy for delivering that information. Completion of the assessment requires outlining strategic considerations, setting communication goals, and measuring the communication efforts to ensure success.

Talent Acquisition

Microcredential Description: Earners can prepare an organization's recruitment strategy.

Course: Human Resource Management
Length: 12 weeks
Delivery Method: Blended (scheduled & self-paced)
Cost: $1,045
Skill: Labour Analysis, Relationship Management, Strategic Sourcing
Earning Criteria: Earners of this microcredential developed a 6-layer recruitment strategy for customer service positions based on a scenario provided. Earners addressed external issues that impact recruitment, the organizational brand, the recruiter/hiring manager relationship, and defined the search parameters, including how they would conduct and evaluate the search. A recruitment strategy was presented through a report, video, or presentation that was evaluated by the instructor using a rubric.

JavaScript Coding Fundamentals

Microcredential Description: Earners are proficient in applying core coding concepts using the JavaScript language. These concepts include storing data in variables, writing conditional and iterative expressions and statements and encapsulating code into functions. Earners are also able to develop, maintain and troubleshoot JavaScript applications of moderate complexity.

Course Name: JavaScript Coding 1: Building Foundational Skills
Length: 6 weeks
Delivery Method: Scheduled 
Cost: $1,195
Skills: Computational Thinking, Core Coding Skills, Vanilla JavaScript
Earning Criteria: Earners of this microcredential used a code shell to design and implement a JavaScript quiz application. Skills utilized included writing decision making statements, manipulating data stored in arrays, performing iterations, and organizing code blocks into functions. Earners also demonstrated their knowledge of the JavaScript language through their choice of quiz questions.

Critical Thinking for Decision-Making

Microcredential Description: Earners can critically assess and synthesize multiple forms of data, feedback, and information to support decision making in a leadership context. They can select appropriate data sources, identify limitations of decision making related to their own bias, construct questions to elicit a deeper understanding of the problem,  and identify communication issues and constraints. 

Course Name: Critical Thinking, Decision-Making and Problem Solving for Leaders
Length: 12 weeks
Delivery Method: Blended (scheduled & self-paced)
Cost: $1,045
Skills: Active Listening, Critical Assessment, Data Gathering, Effective Questionning, Interpreting
Earning Criteria: Earners of this microcredential identified appropriate data sources, communication issues, and power structures that influence decision-making within a complex scenario. They examined their personal biases that influence this interpretation through journaling, and demonstrated their ability to elicit a deeper understanding of an issue using Socratic questioning (both verbally and digitally). An instructor used a mastery-based learning approach & earners met the minimum standards within a rubric.

Design Thinking

Microcredential Description: Earners of the Design Thinking Microcredential can use the 5-step design thinking process to address a workplace challenge. They are able to define a problem, apply design thinking methodologies (ideate, prototype, and refine), and utilize iterative user feedback to establish possible solutions.

Course Name: Design Thinking
Length: 12 weeks
Cost: $1,045
Skills: Critical Thinking, Facilitation, Problem Solving
Earning Criteria: Earners of this Microcredential implemented the 5-step design thinking process to address a real world problem within a workplace/sector. They used empathy activities to define a challenge from the user’s perspective, ideation activities to identify one idea that would have an impact on the challenge, developed a prototype to address the challenge, and engaged in testing activities to refine their idea. Earners captured their process in a report which an instructor evaluated using a rubric.

Effective Leadership Practices

Microcredential Description: Earners can identify and introduce new leadership concepts and strategies into a professional workplace environment.

Course Name: Leadership Dynamics
Length: 12 weeks
Delivery Method: Blended (scheduled & self-paced)
Cost: $1,045
Skills: Leadership, Leadership Analysis, Strategic Engagement
Earning Criteria: Earners of this Effective Leadership Microcredential identified and incorporated a new leadership concept into a workplace context. The earner authored an in-depth report, which included their strategy, challenges, and success factors. This report was evaluated by an instructor using a rubric.

Ethical Decision-Making

Microcredential Description: Earners can apply ethical decision-making practices to ethical dilemmas in a professional leadership context.

Course Name: Ethics in Action
Length: 12 weeks
Delivery Method: Blended (scheduled & self-paced)
Cost: $1,045
Skills: Critical Thinking, Ethical Decision-Making, Reasoning

Positive Culture Planning

Microcredential Description: Earners are able to develop an action plan with strengths-based strategies to influence positive change in a workplace setting.

Course Name: Adaptation of Positive Psychology Principles in Organizations and Teams
Length: 5 weeks
Delivery Method: Blended (scheduled & self-paced)
Cost: $795
Skllls: Change Management, Positive Culture Planning, Positive Leadership, Problem-Solving, Strengths Building
Earning Criteria: Earners of this microcredential applied the four dimensions of an appreciative inquiry model to develop an action plan that includes a minimum of 2 interventions for their workplace to improve their team or organizational culture. Earners were required to provide three external references to support their observations and conclusions. The action plan was evaluated by an instructor using a rubric.

Strategic Problem Solving for Leaders

Microcredential Description: Earners are competent in developing strategies to resolve workplace challenges and/or dilemmas.

Course Name: Mastering Strategy
Course Length: 12 weeks
Delivery Method: Blended (scheduled & self-paced)
Cost: $1,045
Skills: Problem Management, Strategic Analysis, Strategic Execution, Strategic Planning
Earning Criteria: Earners of this microcredential identified and applied an ethical decision-making model and critical aspects of confidentiality, privacy, and informed consent policies/guidelines to a dilemma in a case study. The earners presented their findings in a report that was evaluated by an instructor using a rubric.

Utilizing Creativity for Personal and Team Development

Microcredential Description: Earners can identify how to use creative style types (integration, splitting, figure-ground reversal, and distal) for personal growth and team development.

Course Name: Creativity and Innovation for Leaders
Length: 12 weeks
Delivery Method: Blended (scheduled & self-paced)
Cost: $1,045
Skills: Adaptabilty, Collaboration, Critiical Reflection, Problem Solving, Teamwork
Earning Criteria: Earners identified their personal creative style, how it manifests in a workplace, and how it impedes innovation within teams. They participated in 6 live sessions and submitted 12 reflections that examined biases and fears related to personal growth and team development. These were assessed by an instructor and scored a level 4 or higher on a rubric with an overall grade of 80% or higher.

Responding to Mental Distress (Available in French)

Microcredential Description: Earners can identify signs of mental distress in others and the appropriate ways to respond, including the types of conversations to have with the person in distress, where/how to access resources, and what to encourage for appropriate self-care.

Course Name: We Care
Length: Hours
Delivery Method: Self-paced
Cost: $95
Skils: Compassionate Communications, Encouraging Mental Wellness, Identifying Distress
Earning Criteria: Earners of this microcredential engaged with a scenario to correctly identify ways to recognize and respond to common signs of mental distress in a workplace context. When presented with alternative responses to a colleague in distress, the learner chose an appropriate action 100% of the time. This was assessed through a standardized multiple-choice, online assessment.
Standards: Peer Support Canada

Incident Investigation Process

Microcredential Description: Earners can identify steps to conduct and prepare an incident investigation report that includes observations, findings, conclusions, and recommendations which include the prevention of a similar workplace incident in the future.

Course Name: Incident Investigation
Length: 3 weeks
Delivery Method: Self-paced
Cost: TBD
Skills: Analysis, Critical Thinking Photographic Analysis, Scene Security
Earning Criteria: Earners of this microcredential engaged with a series of 9 scenarios and correctly identified the process to conduct a comprehensive investigation after a workplace incident including steps to securing an accident scene, techniques to gather evidence for an accident investigation report (such as witness statements, analyzing photographs, interviewing techniques, policies, legislation, training records), and identifying human errors. Earners had to achieve 100% in each of the scenarios.
(Contact openlearning@dal.ca for more information)

Laser Safety Awareness

Microcredential Description: Earners are able to take the necessary measures to safely operate a laser or laser system, particularly a Class 3B or 4 laser. The earner can confidently: assess key elements of the laser such as wavelength; classification and power; identify potential beam and non-beam hazards; and implement the appropriate control measures to protect themselves and others.

Course Name:  Laser Safety
Length: 2 days
Delivery Method: Self-paced
Cost: Free
Skills: Laser Classification, Laser Hazard Control, Laser Safety
Earning Criteria: Earners of this microcredential engaged with a series of scenarios to safely operate a laser or laser system as a user in a research setting. Earners identified the most appropriate strategy to achieve a safe environment while operating a laser in each scenario. Feedback and rationale were provided throughout each asynchronous scenario activity.

Collaborative Facilitation for Sustainability Leadership

Microcredential Description: Earners can use a collaborative leadership approach to consult with organizations, facilitate meetings, and create inclusive spaces in the development of sustainability strategies.

Course Name: RBC Sustainability Leadership Certificate
Length: 20 weeks
Delivery Method: In-person
Cost: $150

Reflective Leadership Approaches for Sustainability Leadership

Microcredential Description: Earners can identify how to use communication, personal, and collaborative awareness as a leadership practice incorporating the 3 pillars of sustainability (social, environmental, and economic). 

Course Name: RBC Sustainability Leadership Certificate
Length: 20 weeks
Delivery Method: In-person
Cost: $150
Skills: Active Listening, Interviewing Skills, Reflective Practice, Self Assessment
Earning Criteria: Earners attended 5 sessions. They self-assessed their personal & collaborative leadership style, reflected on past experience and presented examples to identify their strengths & weaknesses through 2 written reflections (personal & collaborative awareness). They conducted interviews with 4 leaders in the field & assessed how they used communication, personal, and collaborative awareness to implement the 3 pillars of sustainability in their practice. These were assessed across 4 requirements.

Information Access and Privacy Problem Solving

Microcredential Description: Earners are able to identify logical and practical strategies to resolve information access and privacy problems using FOIPOP legislation requirements. 

Course Name: Navigating Information Access and Privacy Protection
Length: 10 weeks
Delivery Method: Blended (scheduled & self-paced)
Cost: $150
Skills: Addressing Information Access Issues, Addressing Privacy Issues, FOIPOP, Problem Solving
Earning Criteria: Earners prioritized FOIPOP requirements and developed logical strategies to resolve information access and privacy issues for 4 real life case studies (2 for information access and 2 for privacy issues). Earners outlined steps to immediately respond to the issue, identified required resources, relevant and applicable legislative provisions, and developed an effective course of action and rationale in response to each scenario. This was evaluated by an instructor using a rubric.

Innovative Solutions for Local Government

Microcredential Description: Earners can develop an innovative public sector solution to an issue impacting a specific population using data that reflects current and relevant economic, social trends and considers the financial sustainability of local government. 

Course Name: Local Government 
Length: 12 weeks
Delivery Method: Blended (scheduled & self-paced)
Cost: $1,045
Skills: Critical Thinking, Data Analysis, Financial Analysis, Problem Solving
Earning Criteria: Earners of this microcredential developed a financially viable and innovative solution for local government to address an issue impacting a specific population group. They used economic and social trends data from the past 5 years to identify the issue and the impact on a specific subset of the population. They proposed a new approach to resolve the issue, including a rationale explaining the unique nature of their solution. This report (2000 words) was assessed by an instructor using a rubric.

African Nova Scotian Justice Institute 

Impact of Race and Culture Assessment (IRCA)

Microcredential Description: Earners can prepare an Impact of Race and Culture Assessment (IRCA) with clinical recommendations that consider cultural and intercultural competence and personal, familial, and cultural histories of a client that is suitable for use as a mitigating tool for sentencing in court.

Course Name:  ANSJI Impact of Race and Culture Assessment Training
Length: TBD
Delivery Method: TBD
Cost: TBD
Skills: Comprehensive Analysis, Effective Communication, Effective Writing, Presentation Skills
Earning Criteria: Earners of this microcredential prepared a sample report suitable for use by the courts to inform sentencing. Earners used case studies and other resources to assess a client’s psychosocial development and made clinical recommendations that considered the role of anti-Black racism in their involvement with the criminal justice system, as well as the implications across their life trajectory. Earners were assessed by an instructor using a rubric and achieved level 3 or higher across 9 criteria.
(Reach out to openlearning@dal.ca for more information)

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Dal Innovates

Business Communications for Researchers: Listening & Speaking

Microcredential Description: The earner demonstrated foundational elements of listening and speaking, from a business communications perspective, in a professional setting. These skills include: collaboration, interpersonal relations, and communicating core business practices and models.

Course Name: Lab2Market Discover
Length: 3 days 
Delivery Method: Scheduled
Cost: Free
Skills: Business Communications, Interpersonal Skills, Presentations
Earning Criteria: Earners of this microcredential demonstrated written and verbal communication skills to a group of individuals throughout a workshop. They received feedback from an instructor on their ability to: pitch their idea in under one minute; communicate their value proposition; and summarize the problem they are solving.

Business Model Generation - Business Model Canvas

Microcredential Description: The earner can create a business model canvas for their proposed commercial product, based on their laboratory research. Through conducting customer interviews over the 2-month program, participants will build out their business model canvas and use their interview findings to validate and/or invalidate their value propositions.

Course Name: Lab2Market Validate
Length: 16 weeks
Delivery Method: Scheduled 
Cost: Free (Teams awarded a $15,000 stipend)
Skills: Business Model Canvas (BMC), Business Modelling, Lean Startup
Earning Criteria: Earners of this microcredential present, and receive feedback on, their business model canvas on a weekly basis. Earners also synthesize a "pivot or persevere" decision on their commercial idea, based on their primary market research and current business model canvas.

Primary Market Research: Interviewing Customers

Microcredential Description: The earners demonstrate foundational elements of primary market research by conducting up to 100 interviews with potential customers or stakeholders. As learners explore the commercial potential of their research, they develop skills around interviewing, interpretation and analysis, and decision-making with value propositions.

Course Name: Lab2Market Validate
Length: 16 weeks
Delivery Method: Scheduled 
Cost: Free (Teams awarded a $15,000 stipend)
Skills: Interviewing, Primary Market Research, Qualitative Research
Earning Criteria: Earners of this microcredential present weekly on interview findings, summarize these findings, and synthesize their decision around a commercial idea. This involves: interview skills (asking questions clearly, active listening, summarizing key thoughts), interpretation of qualitative data (identifying themes), and decision-making based on the data. Instructors provide feedback.

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Canadian Coast Guard

Training Plan Design

Microcredential Description: Earners work or has worked as an On the Job Training Instructor, and has demonstrated the ability to develop components of a training plan. These components include: a sample lesson plan, a feedback document, and an evaluation plan.

Course Name: Train the Trainer (customized for Canadian Coast Guard)
Length: 2 days
Delivery Method: In-person
Cost: TBD
Skills: Evaluatoin Planning, Feedback For Learning, Lesson Plan Development
Earning Criteria: Earners of this microcredential have demonstrated the ability to draft a lesson plan for their On the Job Training Instructor position, complete with content, activities, and an assessment.

Earners of this microcredential have demonstrated the ability to provide constructive feedback to peers on practice facilitation sessions in a written document outlining the strengths and areas for improvement.

Earners of this microcredential have demonstrated the ability to draft an evaluation plan to use with their trainees. This plan identifies the evaluation strategy(ies) used and rationale behind this choice.
(Reach out to openlearning@dal.ca for more information)

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Language Education

A2 English Language Communication

Microcredential Description: Earners successfully employ both receptive (reading and listening) and productive (writing and speaking) communicative English language skills at the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) level of A2 or above. They are able to identify key information from selected texts; conduct a cultural survey and analyze data; revise, edit, and deliver a formal academic presentation to their peers; and prepare and compose an original academic or professional text.

Course Name: English Language Communication
Length: 60 hours
Delivery Method: TBD
Cost: TBD
Skills: Communication, Presentation, Writing
Earning Criteria: Earners prepared and delivered a formal academic presentation—as well as planned, composed, revised, and edited an original academic or professional text. The final version of both the presentation and the composition were assessed by a language professional using a set rubric based on the appropriate CEFR level, and these assessments achieved a “B” grade or higher on the Dalhousie Grade Scale. Earners achieved a grade of 75% or higher in this course overall.
Standards: Common European Framework for References of Languages (CEFR)
(Contact openlearning@dal.ca for more information)

B1 English Language Communication

Microcredential Description: Earners can successfully employ both receptive (reading and listening) and productive (writing and speaking) communicative English language skills at the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) level of  B1 or above. They are able to identify key information from selected texts; conduct a cultural survey and analyze data; revise, edit, and deliver a formal academic presentation to their peers; and prepare and compose an original academic or professional text.

Course Name: English Language Communication
Length: 60 hours
Delivery Method: TBD
Cost: TBD
Skills: Communication, Presentation, Writing
Earning Criteria: Earners prepared and delivered a formal academic presentation—as well as planned, composed, revised, and edited an original academic or professional text. The final version of both the presentation and the composition were assessed by a language professional using a set rubric based on the appropriate CEFR level, and these assessments achieved a “B” grade or higher on the Dalhousie Grade Scale. Earners achieved a grade of 75% or higher in this course overall.
Standards: Common European Framework for References of Languages (CEFR)
(Contact openlearning@dal.ca for more information)

B2 English Language Communication

Microcredential Description: Earners can successfully employ both receptive (reading and listening) and productive (writing and speaking) communicative English language skills at the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) level of B2 or above. They are able to identify key information from selected texts; conduct a cultural survey and analyze data; revise, edit, and deliver a formal academic presentation to their peers; and prepare and compose an original academic or professional text.

Course Name: English Language Communication
Length: 60 hours
Delivery Method: TBD
Cost: TBD
Skills: Communication, Presentation, Writing
Earning Criteria: Earners prepared and delivered a formal academic presentation—as well as planned, composed, revised, and edited an original academic or professional text. The final version of both the presentation and the composition were assessed by a language professional using a set rubric based on the appropriate CEFR level, and these assessments achieved a “B” grade or higher on the Dalhousie Grade Scale. Earners achieved a grade of 75% or higher in this course overall.
Standards: Common European Framework for References of Languages (CEFR)
(Contact openlearning@dal.ca for more information)

C1 English Language Communication

Microcredential Description: Earners can successfully employ both receptive (reading and listening) and productive (writing and speaking) communicative English language skills at the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) level of  C1 or above. They are able to identify key information from selected texts; conduct a cultural survey and analyze data; revise, edit, and deliver a formal academic presentation to their peers; and prepare and compose an original academic or professional text.

Course Name: English Language Communication
Length: 60 hours
Delivery Method: TBD
Cost: TBD
Skills: Communication, Presentation, Writing
Earning Criteria: Earners prepared and delivered a formal academic presentation—as well as planned, composed, revised, and edited an original academic or professional text. The final version of both the presentation and the composition were assessed by a language professional using a set rubric based on the appropriate CEFR level, and these assessments achieved a “B” grade or higher on the Dalhousie Grade Scale. Earners achieved a grade of 75% or higher in this course overall.
Standards: Common European Framework for References of Languages (CEFR)
(Contact openlearning@dal.ca for more information)

Applying EDIA to Language Education

Microcredential Description: Earners can assess and apply key concepts, principles, and practices of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (EDIA) and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) to their language teaching practice. 

Course Name: Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Access in Language Education
Length: 20 hours
Delivery Method: TBD by client
Cost: TBD
Skills: EDIA Strategy Application, Inclusive Language Education, UDL Implementation
Earning Criteria: Earners of this microcredential prepared a diversity statement to inform their teaching and learning practice that incorporated key concepts, principles, and practices of EDIA and UDL for language education. They applied the knowledge and relevance of EDIA and UDL frameworks and strategies to a detailed lesson plan. These were assessed by a subject matter expert using rubrics. Earners achieved a grade of B or higher (on the Dalhousie Grade Scale) and a grade of 75% or higher in the course.
Standards: UDL Guidelines
(Contact openlearning@dal.ca for more information)

Technology in Language Education

Microcredential Description: Earners can apply key concepts and frameworks for using technology in language education to teach a lesson using one or more digital tools.

Course Name: Technology in Language Education 
Length: 20 hours
Delivery Method: TBD
Cost: TBD
Skills: Applying UDL, Backward Design, Language Instruction, Teaching with Technology
Earning Criteria: Following the Backward Design process and UDL guidelines, earners planned and delivered a language lesson using one or more digital tools or resources. The recorded lesson was assessed by a subject matter expert using a TPACK-informed rubric, and achieved a B grade or higher on the Dalhousie Grade Scale. Earners achieved a grade of 75% or higher in this course overall.
Standards: TPACK Framework
(Contact openlearning@dal.ca for more information)

Strategies for the Internationalization of the Curriculum

Microcredential Description: Earners can critically assess different approaches, trends, ethical issues, and their own professional context to develop strategies to internationalize the curriculum for specific contexts within higher education.

Course Name: Implementation and Leadership of the Internationalization of Cirriculum Initiatives
Length: 16 hours
Delivery Method: TBD
Cost: TBD
Skills: Critical Contextual Analysis, Presentation Skills, Strategy Application
Earning Criteria: Earners of this microcredential used key concepts, frameworks, and trends to critically analyze their own professional context and identify opportunities for the application of IoC strategies. Earners submitted a video presentation to communicate an IoC initiative grounded in the strategies outlined in this course and considered relevant and appropriate to their professional context. This was assessed by a subject matter expert using a rubric. Earners achieved a grade of 75% or higher.
(Contact openlearning@dal.ca for more information)

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MindFrame Connect

High Performance Mentoring of Entrepreneurs

Microcredential Description: Earners are able to conduct long form mentor sessions for entrepreneurs and support a mentee in a high intensity/pressure situation. They are able to utilize principles of equity, diversity and inclusion in their approach, establish a foundation of trust and psychological safety,  demonstrate active listening and questioning techniques, deliver and receive constructive feedback, and identify and categorize mentee goals.

Course Name: MindFrame Connect Advanced Principles of Mentorship
Length: 5 weeks
Delivery Method: In-person
Cost: TBD
Skills: Active Listening, Delivering Feedback, Effective Questioning, Mentoring in Crisis
Earning Criteria: Earners demonstrated their ability to support a mentee through case studies & role play. Earners were evaluated through 20 minute mentor sessions that included high pressure situations. Earners demonstrated active listening & effective questioning. They delivered constructive feedback & identified goals from most pressing to least pressing. A mastery-based learning approach to evaluation was used & minimum standards (based on MindFrame Connect Principles of Mentorship) were met using a rubric.
(Contact openlearning@dal.ca for more information)

Adult Education

Applied Adult Learning Theory

Microcredential Description: Earners can apply appropriate adult learning theories to the development of new learning experiences.

Course Name: Theories of Adult Learning
Length: 3 weeks
Delivery Method: Blended (scheduled & self-paced) 
Cost: $650 
Skills: Adult Learning Principles, Adult Learning Theories, Develop Theory of Teaching, Discuss Principles of Adult Learners, Teaching Theory, Theory-informed Practice, UDL, Utilize Guidelines of UDL
Earning Criteria: Earners of this microcredential have successfully designed a short adult learning experience and have identified the relevant learning theories used in their design process.

Designing Evaluation Strategies for Learning Programs

Microcredential Description: Earners of this microcredential can develop an evaluation strategy for a learning program or course using Kirkpatrick's Model of Evaluation.

Course Name: Evaluating Learning
Length: 3 weeks
Delivery: Online - Self-paced
Cost: $650
Skills: Analysis, Assessment, Evaluation, Planning
Earning Criteria: Earners of this microcredential developed an evaluation strategy using the Kirkpatrick Evaluation Template that incorporated four levels of learning (impact, transfer, learning, and reaction) and included data, sources, methods, and timing for each level. This was evaluated by an instructor using a rubric.

Designing an Online Teaching Strategy

Microcredential Description: Earners of this Microcredential can develop an online training strategy to address a teaching challenge that utilizes UDL principles and multiple online tools.

Course Name: Designing and Teaching Online
Length: 2 weeks
Delivery Method: Online - Self-paced
Cost: $650.00
Skills: Communication, Facilitation, Teaching
Earning Criteria: Earners of this Microcredential identified a teaching challenge in an online learning environment and developed a training strategy to address it. The training strategy incorporated a minimum of two UDL principles and two online tools. The strategy was assessed by an instructor using a rubric.
 
 

Inclusive Education Planning

Microcredential Description: Earners can identify various strategies for fostering inclusivity in teaching & learning. This follows self-reflection and analysis of one's own bias, privledge, and barriers.

Course Name: Understanding Diversity and Inclusion
Course Length: 3 weeks
Delivery Method: Blended (scheduled & self-paced)
Cost: $650
Skills: Adult Education, Diversity and Inclusion, Inclusive Teaching
Earning Criteria: Earners of this microcredential have demonstrated the ability to draft a plan which identifies effective and inclusive teaching and learning practices. This is assessed by an instructor for its clarity, choice of techniques, and the rationale of their choices.

Instructional Methods for Adult Learners

Microcredential Description: Earners can identify instructional methods appropriate for a givn situation with adult learners. Participants have extensive knowledge of a variety of instructional methods appropriate for adult instruction.

Course Name: Instructional Methods
Length: 3 weeks
Delivery Method: Blended (scheduled & self-paced)
Cost: $650
Skills: Activities, Adult Education, Facilitation, Instruction, Instructional Methods
Earning Criteria: Earners of this microcredential can identify an appropriate instructional methodology for a given scenario. They have submitted a written assignment outlining: the methodology selected, rationale for their choice, and the appropriate timings for the instruction.

Planning Facilitation with Adult Learners

Microcredential Description: Earners have demonstrated the ability to plan strategies to mitigate challenging behaviors that may occur during facilitation with a group of adults before disruptions happen.

Course Name: Effective Facilitation
Length: 3 weeks
Delivery Method: Blended (scheduled & self-paced)
Cost: $650
Skills: Facilitation, Group Dynamics, Group Formation, Teaching, Training
Earning Criteria: Earners of this microcredential have submitted a plan that outlines strategies for mitigating challenging behaviours that may arise during a facilitation with adults.

Program Design for Adult Learners

Microcredential Description: Earners have the ability to explain and employ the various steps and stages of program design for adult learning contexts. Earners can design effective workshops in both workplace and educational contexts. 

Course Name: Program Design
Length: 3 weeks
Delivery Method: Blended (scheduled & self-paced)
Cost: $650
Skills: Assessment, Evaluation, Needs Assessment, Program Design
Earning Criteria: Earners of this microcredential have demonstrated the ability to design a basic workshop or program that might be needed in their workplace context. Earners have outlined: a needs assessment strategy, learning outcomes, and an assessment plan.

Reconciliation in Practice

Microcredential Description: Earners can identify ways to embed reconciliation inot their personal and professional lives. 

Course Name: Indigenous Teaching and Learning Perspectives
Length: 3 weeks
Delivery Method: Blended (scheduled & self-paced)
Cost: $650
Skills: Reflective Practice, Cultural Literacy, Indigenous Ways of Knowing, Indigenous PRactices, Allyship, Critical Thinking 
Earning Criteria: Earners of this microcredential can identify ways to embed reconciliation inot their personal and professional lives. 

Agriculture

Fish Health Assessment and Diagnostic Procedures

Microcredential Descripton: Through the Faculty of Agriculture, earners have demonstrated the ability to use a health assessment socring matrix and observe fish for their general level of health and welfare. Earners can identify internal anatomy of a fish, identify common fish parasites, and perform a gross fish necropsy. The earner can prepare tissue samples for lab analysis, which involves preserving samples in formalin and may include loading a tissue cassette. 

Course Name: Fish Care and Husbandry in Research Facilities - Module 2
Length: 2 week module/ part of 6 week course
Delivery Method: In-person
Cost: TBD
Skills: Fish Necropsy, Fish Observation, Microscopy, Record Keeping, Tissue Sampling, Use of Welfare Matrix
Earning Criteria: Earners of this Microcredential used a recognized fish health monitoring matrix to assess videos of 3 species showing clinical signs of health concerns and produced a summary of findings. Earners completed a gross fish necropsy and prepared tissue samples for lab analysis. They identified common external parasites and labelled internal anatomy from photographs. Evidence of the necropsy & tissue sample preparation were collected via video (up to 5 min).
(Contact openlearning@dal.ca for more information)

Fish Research Facility and Water Research

Microcredential Description: Through the Faculty of Agriculture, earners have conducted a site and water analysis in a fish research facility, analysed data, and made recommendations to improve water quality, operation, and maintenance of the site for better fish health.

Course Name: Fish Care and Husbandry in Research Facilities - Module 3
Length: 2 week module/ part of a 6 week course
Delivery Method: In-person
Cost: TBD
Skills: Critical Analysis of LSS, Data Analysis, Facility Audit, Water Qualiy Analysis
Earning Criteria: Earners of this microcredential evaluated the physical structure & building components of a fish research facility & made recommendations to improve the operation & maintenance of the site. Earners demonstrated an understanding of tank flows, oxygen balance & waste removal of a fish holding tank. They analysed water quality measurements taken over time, provided a breakdown of the issues, & suggested mitigation strategies. Evidence provided: a checklist, water analysis summary, & recommendations.
(Contact openlearning@dal.ca for more information)

Tractor Safety

Microcredential Description: Through the Faculty of Agriculture, earners are competent in operating a tractor with an attached implement on Nova Scotia roads. The earner can conduct pre-operation checks, attach front and rear-mounted implements, and safely operate a tractor and implement with a combined weight of 14,000 kg or less.

Course Name: Tractor Safety
Length: 2 days
Delivery Method: In-person
Cost: $250
Skills: Attach Implements, Haul Implements, Road Safety, Safe Operation
Earning Criteria: Score grade of at least 70% on final written assessment. 

Earners of this microcredential have scored 70% or higher on two practical driving assessments. They have demonstrated their ability to safely attach an implement, start tractor, drive forward, drive a full course route, stop on a hill, back up with implement attached, park, unhitch and stop tractor.
Standards:
NS Motor Vehicle Act
Forthcoming NS Traffic Safety Act

 

 

 

Business

Assessing Corporate Social Responsibility

Microcredential Description: Earners can assess and make recommendations to improve an organization’s social responsibility, which includes the following: environmental footprint, employee engagement, transparency, waste management, human rights performance, community investment, and responsible supply chain management.

Course Name: Corporate Social Responsibility
Length: 42 hours
Delivery Method: Self-paced
Cost: $899
Skills: Corporate Social Responsibility, Critical Thinking
Earning Criteria: Earners of this microcredential compared and assessed the approaches of two organizations regarding their actions towards corporate social responsibility and sustainability, with a focus on alignment to international agreements and financial impact. Their analysis was evaluated by the course instructor for insightfulness, depth, feasibility, sustainability, and linkages to UN guidelines using a standardized rubric.

Business Case for Diverse Teams

Microcredential Description: Earners have demonstrated the ability to present a business case/rationale for fostering diverse teams in the workplace (as opposed to focusing on homogeneous teams). The case is supported with course readings, personal/professional experiences, and external research.

Course Name: Optimizing Diverse Team Performance  
Length: 3 weeks
Delivery Method: Blended (scheduled & self-paced)
Cost: $650

Developing an Objective-based Marketing Plan

Microcredential Description: Earners can prepare an objective-based marketing plan.

Course Name: Marketing Essentials for Business
Length: 12 weeks
Delivery Method: Blended (scheduled & self-paced)
Cost: $1,045
Skills: Market Assessment, Marketing Planning, Product Development
Earning Criteria: Earners of this microcredential developed a detailed objective-based marketing plan that included a situational analysis, product/service strategy, distribution strategy, and implementation and control strategy. This report was assessed by an instructor using a rubric.

Financial Decision-Making

Microcredential Description: Earners have demonstrated that they can analyze a basic set of financial statements to support organizational decision making.

Course Name: Finance Essentials for Public Sector Leaders
Length: 4 weeks
Delivery Method: Blended (scheduled & self-paced)
Cost: $1,045
Skills: Accounting Literacy, Financial Analysis, Financial Literacy
Earning Criteria: Earners of this microcredential reviewed year-over-year financial statements to identify potential trends and the most critical issues for an organization based on a real scenario. Earners shared their findings in a report which was evaluated by an instructor using a rubric.

 

Developing an Objective-based Marketing Plan

Microcredential Description: Earners of this microcredential can prepare an objective-based marketing plan.

Course Name: Marketing Essentials for Business
Length: 12 weeks
Delivery Method: Online - Self-paced
Cost: $1,045
Skills: Market Assessment, Marketing Planning, Product Development
Earning Criteria: Earners of this microcredential developed a detailed objective-based marketing plan that included a situational analysis, product/service strategy, distribution strategy, and implementation and control strategy. This report was assessed by an instructor using a rubric.

Career Practitioners

Needs Assessment: Foundations

Microcredential Description: In collaboration wit Nova Scotia Career Development Association, the earner can successfully complete the initial stages of a needs assessment interview, including: appropriate use of verbal and non-verbal communication, strong listening skills, establish rapport and build the working alliance, gather appropriate information, demonstrate questioning skills, and appropriately explain confidentiality.

Course Name: Case Management
Length: 100 hours
Delivery Method: Self-Paced 
Cost: TBD
Skills: Assessment, Effective Questioning, Establish Rapport
Earning Criteria: Earners have recorded the first 10 minutes of a client needs assessment. This involves demonstrating communication skills (non-verbal, verbal, and listening), building the working alliance, and needs assessment skills (questioning, relevant information-gathering). Earners have reviewed the recording and completed a self-evaluation, in addition to receiving written feedback from an instructor.
Standards: The National Competency Profile for Career Development Professionals
(Contact openlearning@dal.ca for more information)

Dal Faculty & Students

3D Printer and Laser Cutter Safety (Dalhousie Students Only)

Microcredential Description: Through the Faculty of Agriculture, earners have demonstrated adherence to safety procedures at all times while inside the lab area. They can identify, and operate under, any specific safety requirements while using each tool. 

Course Name: Lab Safety
Length: 2 days
Delivery Method: In-person
Cost: Free
Skills: 3D Printer Safety, Laser Cutter Safety, Shop Safety
Earning Criteria: Earners of this Microcredential demonstrated safe handling and use of CNC maker space equipment including 3D printers and laser cutters. Earners scored 85% or higher on an online theory of shop and tool safety quiz. Earners demonstrated safe handling and use (in-person) which was verified by an instructor or lab supervisor.
(Contact openlearning@dal.ca for more information)

Metal Fabrication Equipment Safety (Dalhousie Students Only)

Microcredential Description: Earners have demonstrated adherence to safety procedures at all times while inside the metal lab area. They can identify, and operate under, any specific safety requirements while using each tool.

Course Name: Lab Safety Initiative
Length: 2 days
Delivery Method: In-person
Cost: Free
Skills: Safe Tool Handling, Shop Safety, Shop Skills
Earning Criteria: Earners of this Microcredential demonstrated safe handling and use of metal fabrication tools found in a lab or shop. Earners scored 85% or higher on an online theory of shop and tool safety quiz. Earners demonstrated safe handling and use (in-person) which was verified by an instructor or lab supervisor.
(Contact openlearning@dal.ca for more information)

Microcredential Design (Dalhousie Faculty Only)

Microcredential Description: Earners have demonstrated that they can successfully design a microcredential that aligns to specific criteria set out by Dalhousie University.

Course Name: Microcedentials Training Workshop
Length: 2 days
Delivery Method: Scheduled 
Cost: Free
Skills: Assessment Design, Competency Assessment, Microcredential Design
Earning Criteria: Earners of this badge designed a microcredential that met the strongest criteria (Group A) set out in the Dal Microcredential Approval Rubric. They identified & adequately described a skill/competency that aligns with labour market needs & developed a competency-based assessment strategy. They designed sequential steps that lead to an overall skill/competency. They submitted the design using the Dal Microcredential application, which was assessed through the Dal Microcredential Approval Process.
(Contact openlearning@dal.ca for more information)

Python Foundational Bootcamp (Dalhousie Students Only)

Microcredential Description: Through the Faculty of Engineering, earners have demonstrated Python basic programming skills including converting data types, string manipulation, for & while loops, lambda function, range functions, and generating random integer lists using normal, exponential, and uniform distributions. Earners have demonstrated how to import libraries and use library functions to simplify their Python code. Earners have also demonstrated the ability to clean, modify, and merge data into one uniform data frame.

Course Name: Python Programming Bootcamp 
Length: 2 days
Delivery Method: In-person
Cost: Free
Skills: Data Analysis, Data Wrangling, Math, Object-oriented Programming, Python
Earning Criteria: Earners of the Python Foundational Bootcamp microcredential have successfully submitted portfolio evidence of properly formatted Python code, using markdown text and comments, in Jupyter Notebook. The earner created a list of integers, performed a mathematical operation on each integer and assigned integers to a new list.

Earners of the Python Foundational Bootcamp Microcredential have successfully submitted portfolio evidence of properly formatted Python code in a Jupyter notebook that imported built-in modules to combine files of different formats, eliminated duplicates, and wrote a single CSV file sorted alphabetically by country.
(Contact openlearning@dal.ca for more information)

Woodworking Lab Equipment Safety (Dalhousie Students Only)

Microcredential Description: Through the Faculty of Agriculture, earners have demonstrated knowledge of how to adhere to safety procedures at all times while inside the woodworking lab area. They can identify, and operate under, any specific safety requirements while using each tool.

Course Name: Lab Safety Initiative
Length: 2 days
Delivery Method: In-person
Cost: Free
Skills: Safe Tool Handling, Shop Safety, Shop Skills
Earning Criteria: Earners of this Wood Lab Safety Microcredential demonstrated safe handling and use of woodworking tools found in a lab or shop. Earners scored 85% or higher on an online theory of shop and tool safety quiz. Earners demonstrated safe handling and use (in-person) which was verified by an instructor or lab supervisor.
(Contact openlearning@dal.ca for more information)

Writing for Academic Publication (Dalhousie Faculty Only)

Microcredential Description: Earners have demonstrated their ability to plan and compose a complete, original academic article—or an article section— appropriate for a specific, learner-identified professional media venue.

Course Name: Writing for Academic Publication
Length: 2 days
Delivery Method: TBD
Cost: Free
Skills: Academic Writing Skills, Editing Skills, Genre Analysis
Earning Criteria: Earners of this microcredential planned, composed, revised, and edited an original academic article or article section appropriate for a specific, learner-identified professional media venue. The final version of the article or article section was assessed by a writing and editing professional using a rubric and achieved a B grade or higher on the Dalhousie Grade Scale. Earners achieved a grade of 75% or higher in this course overall.
(Contact openlearning@dal.ca for more information)

EDIA

Business Case for Diverse Teams

Microcredential Description: Earners have demonstrated an understanding of the ways they can optimize diverse teams contributions to organizational success. This knowledge is developed from group work, simulations, discussions and reflective practice activities.

Course Name: Optimizing Diverse Team Performance
Course Length: 3 weeks
Delivery Method: Self-paced
Cost: $650
Skills: Business Case, Diversity, Team and Organization Development
Earning Criteria: Earners of this microcredential have submitted a business case outlining the need to foster diverse teams in the workplace. The earner has highlighted the benefits, opportunities, and role of leadership in fostering these inclusive teams. Feedback and evaluations were provided by the instructor - a subject matter expert.

EDIA Strategy Implementation

Microcredential Description: Earners have demonstrated the ability to analyze a particular EDIA strategy that can be implemented in the workplace. This analysis is supported by course materials, academic literature, and personal experience.

Course Name: Strategies for Implementing EDI Initiatives
Length: 3 weeks
Delivery Method: Blended (scheduled & self-paced)
Cost: $650
Skills: Analysis, Inclusive Strategies, Strategies, Strategy Implementation
Earning Criteria: Earners of this microcredential have written an analysis detailing: their chosen EDIA strategy, expected outcomes, possible challenges, interventions to handle resistance to the strategy. The analysis is supported with course content, academic literature, and lived experience. Feedback and evaluation is provided by the instructor - a subject matter expert.

Inclusive Communication Analysis

Microcredential Description: Earners have demonstrated the ability to analyze both effective and non-effective strategies for inclusive communications, reflecting on the elements that make successful communication possible.

Course Name: Inclusive Communications in the Workplace
Course Length: 3 weeks
Delivery Method: Blended (scheduled & self-paced)
Cost: $650
Skills: Analysis, Communication, Inclusion
Earning Criteria: Earners of this microcredential submit a written analysis of communication strategies they have witnessed in the workplace, determining their effectiveness in facilitating inclusivity amongst coworkers. Earners identify the necessary elements for inclusive communication strategies. Feedback and evaluations are provided by the instructor - a subject matter expert.

Inclusive Communication Strategies (Available in French)

Microcredential Description: In collaboration with The Idea Practice, earners have demonstrated the ability to select the most appropriate strategy for supporting inclusive communications, given a series of connected scenarios. While the context is workplace communication, this skill is transferable to all other communication settings.

Course Name: Foundations of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Workplace 
Course Length: 8 hours
Delivery Method: Self-paced
Cost: $497
Skills: Communication, Inclusion and Belonging, Inclusive Communication
Earning Criteria: Earners of the microcredential engage with a series of scenarios that describe inclusive communication issues in a workplace setting. Earners identify the most appropriate strategy to implement in each scenario in order to foster an environment that supports inclusive communication. Feedback and rationale are provided throughout each asynchronous scenario activity.

Organizational Inclusion Strategies

Microcredential Description: Earners have demonstrated the ability to recommend strategies that could be used by leaders to foster inclusion in their organizations. They are required to provide rationale for those recommendations.

Course Name: Understanding EDI: An Organization Imperative
Course Length: 3 weeks
Delivery Method: Blended (scheduled & self-paced)
Cost: $650
Skills: Inclusion, Rationale, Strategies
Earning Criteria: Earners of this microcredential submit a written recommendation detailing strategies for fostering inclusive workplaces, and provide a rationale for those choices. Feedback and evaluation is provided by an instructor who is a subject matter expert.

Personal Intercultural Awareness

Microcredential Description: Earners can identify and assess their own intercultural competence and develop strategies  to be more successful as an intercultural communicator in a specific higher education context.

Course Name: Intercultural Communication in a Higher Education Context
Length: 12 hours
Delivery Method: Self-paced
Cost: $575
Skills: Intercultural Communication, Planning, Self Assessment

Earning Criteria: Earners developed a plan to enhance their own intercultural communication competence. They engaged with a series of intercultural scenarios set in an academic setting and identified the differences between specific cultural dimensions. They created a public portfolio that included a personal intercultural skills inventory (with examples from their work & life experiences) and a plan to improve their own competence as an intercultural communicator within their current role in higher education.

Reconciliation in Practice

Microcredential Description: Earners can identify ways to embed reconiliation practices ino their personal and professional lives. 

Course Name: Indigenous Teaching and Learning Perspectives
Length: 3 weeks
Delivery Method: Blended (scheduled & self-paced)
Cost: $650
Skills: Allyship, Critical Thinking, Cultural Literacy, Cultural Literacy, Identification of Colonial Practices, Indigenous Pratcies, Indigenous Ways of Knowing, Reflective Practice
Earning Criteria: Earners of this microcredential completed a capstone project. They identified opportunities and processes to embed reconciliation into their personal and professional lives and prepared a commitment statement to the reconciliation process. These were presented in a 1000-word report which was assessed by an instructor using a rubric. A minimum grade of 80% was achieved.
 

Forensic Investigation

Casino Gaming Investigations

Microcredential Description: Earners can design an investigation unit and an investigation strategy related to money laundering and fraud for the casino gaming industry.

Course Name: Casino Gaming Investigations
Length: 12 weeks
Delivery Method: Blended (scheduled & self-paced)
Cost: $1,045
Skills: Critical Thinking, Presentation, Verbal Communication, Written Communication
Earning Criteria: Earners of this microcredential designed an investigation unit & an investigation strategy around a crime relating to money laundering and fraud in the casino gaming industry. They prepared a 5–10-minute recorded presentation as if presenting to senior level decision makers, as well as a 3000 word report. The report outlined roles within their proposed unit and recommendations on how they would establish compliance. This was evaluated by an instructor using a rubric. A grade of 70% was achieved.

Responsible Gaming and Player Protection Practices

Microcredential Description: Earners of the Responsible Gaming and Player Protection Microcredential can critically assess the state of responsible gaming and player protection in their organization and identify potential improvements.

Course name: Responsible Gaming and Player Protection
Length: 12 hours
Delivery: Online - Self-paced
Cost: $350
Skills: Critical Thinking, Decision Making, Problem Solving
Earning Criteria: Earners critically assessed the provision of responsible gaming within their organization. They identified opportunities to strengthen player protection and responsible gaming practices related to player behaviour, tools, player education, technology, marketing, employee training, community engagement, global activity, and the role of stakeholders. Earners presented their findings in a report (500 words), which was assessed by an instructor using a rubric.
 

Human Resources

Interpersonal and Intercultural Conflict Management Resolution

Microcredential Description: Earners are competent in conducting interviews to make individual and organizational recommendations to resolve interpersonal and intercultural conflict.

Course Name: Interpersonal and Intercultural Communication
Length: 12 weeks
Delivery Method: Blended (scheduled & self-paced)
Cost: $1,045
Skills: Conflict Resolution, Interview Techniques, Non-Verbal Communication, Verbal Communication Skills
Earning Criteria: Earners of this microcredential have conducted a mock interview demonstrating interview techniques for interpersonal and intercultural conflict management. They proposed suitable recommendations for the individual to resolve the workplace conflict and made recommendations to influence organizational policy to address the interpersonal and intercultural conflict. Earners of this microcredential had their interview and recommendations assessed by an instructor using a rubric.

Organizational Design

Microcredential Description: Earners can identify organizational design challenges and assess the impact on individual and team performance.

Course Name: Organizational Behaviour
Length: 12 weeks
Delivery Method: Blended (scheduled & self-paced)
Cost: $1,045
Skills: Critical Analysis, Impact Assessment, Team Dynamics
Earning Criteria: Earners of the Organizational Design microcredential can identify organizational design challenges and assess the impact on individual and team performance.

Performance Coaching

Microcredential Description: Earners are competent in developing a coaching plan to improve individual performance.

Course Name: Coaching Skills for Leaders
Length: 12 weeks
Delivery Method: Blended (scheduled & self-paced)
Cost: $1,045
Skills: Goal Setting, Planning, Skill Development, Skill Recognition
Earning Criteria: Earners of the Performance Coaching microcredential developed a coaching plan to advance the skills of an employee through a given scenario. The earner identified and/or demonstrated all components of the coaching process which included: performance goal(s), an achievement plan, and measures for success. The plan was evaluated by an instructor using a rubric.

Positive Culture Planning

Microcredential Description: Earners are able to develop an action plan with strengths-based strategies to influence positive change in a workplace setting.

Course Name: Adaptation of Positive Psychology Principles in Organizations and Teams
Length: 5 weeks
Delivery Method: Scheduled
Cost: $795

Strategic Public Communication Planning for Leaders

Microcredential Description: Earners have the ability to think strategically about public communications on behalf of an organization. The earner can devise effective public communications for an organization, including addressing specific public communication needs and utilizing communication tactics to reach that audience.

Course Name: Strategic Communications
Length: 12 weeks
Delivery Method: Blended (scheduled & self-paced)
Cost: $1,045
Skills: Communications Goal Setting
Earning Critera: The earner has authored a public communications plan for an organization about a project, initiative, or issue. This process involves documenting what needs to be communicated, what publics need to be reached, and the strategy for delivering that information. Completion of the assessment requires outlining strategic considerations, setting communication goals, and measuring the communication efforts to ensure success.

Talent Acquisition

Microcredential Description: Earners can prepare an organization's recruitment strategy.

Course: Human Resource Management
Length: 12 weeks
Delivery Method: Blended (scheduled & self-paced)
Cost: $1,045
Skill: Labour Analysis, Relationship Management, Strategic Sourcing
Earning Criteria: Earners of this microcredential developed a 6-layer recruitment strategy for customer service positions based on a scenario provided. Earners addressed external issues that impact recruitment, the organizational brand, the recruiter/hiring manager relationship, and defined the search parameters, including how they would conduct and evaluate the search. A recruitment strategy was presented through a report, video, or presentation that was evaluated by the instructor using a rubric.

Information Technology

JavaScript Coding Fundamentals

Microcredential Description: Earners are proficient in applying core coding concepts using the JavaScript language. These concepts include storing data in variables, writing conditional and iterative expressions and statements and encapsulating code into functions. Earners are also able to develop, maintain and troubleshoot JavaScript applications of moderate complexity.

Course Name: JavaScript Coding 1: Building Foundational Skills
Length: 6 weeks
Delivery Method: Scheduled 
Cost: $1,195
Skills: Computational Thinking, Core Coding Skills, Vanilla JavaScript
Earning Criteria: Earners of this microcredential used a code shell to design and implement a JavaScript quiz application. Skills utilized included writing decision making statements, manipulating data stored in arrays, performing iterations, and organizing code blocks into functions. Earners also demonstrated their knowledge of the JavaScript language through their choice of quiz questions.

Leadership

Critical Thinking for Decision-Making

Microcredential Description: Earners can critically assess and synthesize multiple forms of data, feedback, and information to support decision making in a leadership context. They can select appropriate data sources, identify limitations of decision making related to their own bias, construct questions to elicit a deeper understanding of the problem,  and identify communication issues and constraints. 

Course Name: Critical Thinking, Decision-Making and Problem Solving for Leaders
Length: 12 weeks
Delivery Method: Blended (scheduled & self-paced)
Cost: $1,045
Skills: Active Listening, Critical Assessment, Data Gathering, Effective Questionning, Interpreting
Earning Criteria: Earners of this microcredential identified appropriate data sources, communication issues, and power structures that influence decision-making within a complex scenario. They examined their personal biases that influence this interpretation through journaling, and demonstrated their ability to elicit a deeper understanding of an issue using Socratic questioning (both verbally and digitally). An instructor used a mastery-based learning approach & earners met the minimum standards within a rubric.

Design Thinking

Microcredential Description: Earners of the Design Thinking Microcredential can use the 5-step design thinking process to address a workplace challenge. They are able to define a problem, apply design thinking methodologies (ideate, prototype, and refine), and utilize iterative user feedback to establish possible solutions.

Course Name: Design Thinking
Length: 12 weeks
Cost: $1,045
Skills: Critical Thinking, Facilitation, Problem Solving
Earning Criteria: Earners of this Microcredential implemented the 5-step design thinking process to address a real world problem within a workplace/sector. They used empathy activities to define a challenge from the user’s perspective, ideation activities to identify one idea that would have an impact on the challenge, developed a prototype to address the challenge, and engaged in testing activities to refine their idea. Earners captured their process in a report which an instructor evaluated using a rubric.

Effective Leadership Practices

Microcredential Description: Earners can identify and introduce new leadership concepts and strategies into a professional workplace environment.

Course Name: Leadership Dynamics
Length: 12 weeks
Delivery Method: Blended (scheduled & self-paced)
Cost: $1,045
Skills: Leadership, Leadership Analysis, Strategic Engagement
Earning Criteria: Earners of this Effective Leadership Microcredential identified and incorporated a new leadership concept into a workplace context. The earner authored an in-depth report, which included their strategy, challenges, and success factors. This report was evaluated by an instructor using a rubric.

Ethical Decision-Making

Microcredential Description: Earners can apply ethical decision-making practices to ethical dilemmas in a professional leadership context.

Course Name: Ethics in Action
Length: 12 weeks
Delivery Method: Blended (scheduled & self-paced)
Cost: $1,045
Skills: Critical Thinking, Ethical Decision-Making, Reasoning

Positive Culture Planning

Microcredential Description: Earners are able to develop an action plan with strengths-based strategies to influence positive change in a workplace setting.

Course Name: Adaptation of Positive Psychology Principles in Organizations and Teams
Length: 5 weeks
Delivery Method: Blended (scheduled & self-paced)
Cost: $795
Skllls: Change Management, Positive Culture Planning, Positive Leadership, Problem-Solving, Strengths Building
Earning Criteria: Earners of this microcredential applied the four dimensions of an appreciative inquiry model to develop an action plan that includes a minimum of 2 interventions for their workplace to improve their team or organizational culture. Earners were required to provide three external references to support their observations and conclusions. The action plan was evaluated by an instructor using a rubric.

Strategic Problem Solving for Leaders

Microcredential Description: Earners are competent in developing strategies to resolve workplace challenges and/or dilemmas.

Course Name: Mastering Strategy
Course Length: 12 weeks
Delivery Method: Blended (scheduled & self-paced)
Cost: $1,045
Skills: Problem Management, Strategic Analysis, Strategic Execution, Strategic Planning
Earning Criteria: Earners of this microcredential identified and applied an ethical decision-making model and critical aspects of confidentiality, privacy, and informed consent policies/guidelines to a dilemma in a case study. The earners presented their findings in a report that was evaluated by an instructor using a rubric.

Utilizing Creativity for Personal and Team Development

Microcredential Description: Earners can identify how to use creative style types (integration, splitting, figure-ground reversal, and distal) for personal growth and team development.

Course Name: Creativity and Innovation for Leaders
Length: 12 weeks
Delivery Method: Blended (scheduled & self-paced)
Cost: $1,045
Skills: Adaptabilty, Collaboration, Critiical Reflection, Problem Solving, Teamwork
Earning Criteria: Earners identified their personal creative style, how it manifests in a workplace, and how it impedes innovation within teams. They participated in 6 live sessions and submitted 12 reflections that examined biases and fears related to personal growth and team development. These were assessed by an instructor and scored a level 4 or higher on a rubric with an overall grade of 80% or higher.

Mental Health

Responding to Mental Distress (Available in French)

Microcredential Description: Earners can identify signs of mental distress in others and the appropriate ways to respond, including the types of conversations to have with the person in distress, where/how to access resources, and what to encourage for appropriate self-care.

Course Name: We Care
Length: Hours
Delivery Method: Self-paced
Cost: $95
Skils: Compassionate Communications, Encouraging Mental Wellness, Identifying Distress
Earning Criteria: Earners of this microcredential engaged with a scenario to correctly identify ways to recognize and respond to common signs of mental distress in a workplace context. When presented with alternative responses to a colleague in distress, the learner chose an appropriate action 100% of the time. This was assessed through a standardized multiple-choice, online assessment.
Standards: Peer Support Canada

Safety

Incident Investigation Process

Microcredential Description: Earners can identify steps to conduct and prepare an incident investigation report that includes observations, findings, conclusions, and recommendations which include the prevention of a similar workplace incident in the future.

Course Name: Incident Investigation
Length: 3 weeks
Delivery Method: Self-paced
Cost: TBD
Skills: Analysis, Critical Thinking Photographic Analysis, Scene Security
Earning Criteria: Earners of this microcredential engaged with a series of 9 scenarios and correctly identified the process to conduct a comprehensive investigation after a workplace incident including steps to securing an accident scene, techniques to gather evidence for an accident investigation report (such as witness statements, analyzing photographs, interviewing techniques, policies, legislation, training records), and identifying human errors. Earners had to achieve 100% in each of the scenarios.
(Contact openlearning@dal.ca for more information)

Laser Safety Awareness

Microcredential Description: Earners are able to take the necessary measures to safely operate a laser or laser system, particularly a Class 3B or 4 laser. The earner can confidently: assess key elements of the laser such as wavelength; classification and power; identify potential beam and non-beam hazards; and implement the appropriate control measures to protect themselves and others.

Course Name:  Laser Safety
Length: 2 days
Delivery Method: Self-paced
Cost: Free
Skills: Laser Classification, Laser Hazard Control, Laser Safety
Earning Criteria: Earners of this microcredential engaged with a series of scenarios to safely operate a laser or laser system as a user in a research setting. Earners identified the most appropriate strategy to achieve a safe environment while operating a laser in each scenario. Feedback and rationale were provided throughout each asynchronous scenario activity.

Sustainability

Collaborative Facilitation for Sustainability Leadership

Microcredential Description: Earners can use a collaborative leadership approach to consult with organizations, facilitate meetings, and create inclusive spaces in the development of sustainability strategies.

Course Name: RBC Sustainability Leadership Certificate
Length: 20 weeks
Delivery Method: In-person
Cost: $150

Reflective Leadership Approaches for Sustainability Leadership

Microcredential Description: Earners can identify how to use communication, personal, and collaborative awareness as a leadership practice incorporating the 3 pillars of sustainability (social, environmental, and economic). 

Course Name: RBC Sustainability Leadership Certificate
Length: 20 weeks
Delivery Method: In-person
Cost: $150
Skills: Active Listening, Interviewing Skills, Reflective Practice, Self Assessment
Earning Criteria: Earners attended 5 sessions. They self-assessed their personal & collaborative leadership style, reflected on past experience and presented examples to identify their strengths & weaknesses through 2 written reflections (personal & collaborative awareness). They conducted interviews with 4 leaders in the field & assessed how they used communication, personal, and collaborative awareness to implement the 3 pillars of sustainability in their practice. These were assessed across 4 requirements.

Other Areas of Interest

Information Access and Privacy Problem Solving

Microcredential Description: Earners are able to identify logical and practical strategies to resolve information access and privacy problems using FOIPOP legislation requirements. 

Course Name: Navigating Information Access and Privacy Protection
Length: 10 weeks
Delivery Method: Blended (scheduled & self-paced)
Cost: $150
Skills: Addressing Information Access Issues, Addressing Privacy Issues, FOIPOP, Problem Solving
Earning Criteria: Earners prioritized FOIPOP requirements and developed logical strategies to resolve information access and privacy issues for 4 real life case studies (2 for information access and 2 for privacy issues). Earners outlined steps to immediately respond to the issue, identified required resources, relevant and applicable legislative provisions, and developed an effective course of action and rationale in response to each scenario. This was evaluated by an instructor using a rubric.

Innovative Solutions for Local Government

Microcredential Description: Earners can develop an innovative public sector solution to an issue impacting a specific population using data that reflects current and relevant economic, social trends and considers the financial sustainability of local government. 

Course Name: Local Government 
Length: 12 weeks
Delivery Method: Blended (scheduled & self-paced)
Cost: $1,045
Skills: Critical Thinking, Data Analysis, Financial Analysis, Problem Solving
Earning Criteria: Earners of this microcredential developed a financially viable and innovative solution for local government to address an issue impacting a specific population group. They used economic and social trends data from the past 5 years to identify the issue and the impact on a specific subset of the population. They proposed a new approach to resolve the issue, including a rationale explaining the unique nature of their solution. This report (2000 words) was assessed by an instructor using a rubric.

Closed Enrollment

African Nova Scotian Justice Institute 

Impact of Race and Culture Assessment (IRCA)

Microcredential Description: Earners can prepare an Impact of Race and Culture Assessment (IRCA) with clinical recommendations that consider cultural and intercultural competence and personal, familial, and cultural histories of a client that is suitable for use as a mitigating tool for sentencing in court.

Course Name:  ANSJI Impact of Race and Culture Assessment Training
Length: TBD
Delivery Method: TBD
Cost: TBD
Skills: Comprehensive Analysis, Effective Communication, Effective Writing, Presentation Skills
Earning Criteria: Earners of this microcredential prepared a sample report suitable for use by the courts to inform sentencing. Earners used case studies and other resources to assess a client’s psychosocial development and made clinical recommendations that considered the role of anti-Black racism in their involvement with the criminal justice system, as well as the implications across their life trajectory. Earners were assessed by an instructor using a rubric and achieved level 3 or higher across 9 criteria.
(Reach out to openlearning@dal.ca for more information)

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Dal Innovates

Business Communications for Researchers: Listening & Speaking

Microcredential Description: The earner demonstrated foundational elements of listening and speaking, from a business communications perspective, in a professional setting. These skills include: collaboration, interpersonal relations, and communicating core business practices and models.

Course Name: Lab2Market Discover
Length: 3 days 
Delivery Method: Scheduled
Cost: Free
Skills: Business Communications, Interpersonal Skills, Presentations
Earning Criteria: Earners of this microcredential demonstrated written and verbal communication skills to a group of individuals throughout a workshop. They received feedback from an instructor on their ability to: pitch their idea in under one minute; communicate their value proposition; and summarize the problem they are solving.

Business Model Generation - Business Model Canvas

Microcredential Description: The earner can create a business model canvas for their proposed commercial product, based on their laboratory research. Through conducting customer interviews over the 2-month program, participants will build out their business model canvas and use their interview findings to validate and/or invalidate their value propositions.

Course Name: Lab2Market Validate
Length: 16 weeks
Delivery Method: Scheduled 
Cost: Free (Teams awarded a $15,000 stipend)
Skills: Business Model Canvas (BMC), Business Modelling, Lean Startup
Earning Criteria: Earners of this microcredential present, and receive feedback on, their business model canvas on a weekly basis. Earners also synthesize a "pivot or persevere" decision on their commercial idea, based on their primary market research and current business model canvas.

Primary Market Research: Interviewing Customers

Microcredential Description: The earners demonstrate foundational elements of primary market research by conducting up to 100 interviews with potential customers or stakeholders. As learners explore the commercial potential of their research, they develop skills around interviewing, interpretation and analysis, and decision-making with value propositions.

Course Name: Lab2Market Validate
Length: 16 weeks
Delivery Method: Scheduled 
Cost: Free (Teams awarded a $15,000 stipend)
Skills: Interviewing, Primary Market Research, Qualitative Research
Earning Criteria: Earners of this microcredential present weekly on interview findings, summarize these findings, and synthesize their decision around a commercial idea. This involves: interview skills (asking questions clearly, active listening, summarizing key thoughts), interpretation of qualitative data (identifying themes), and decision-making based on the data. Instructors provide feedback.

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Canadian Coast Guard

Training Plan Design

Microcredential Description: Earners work or has worked as an On the Job Training Instructor, and has demonstrated the ability to develop components of a training plan. These components include: a sample lesson plan, a feedback document, and an evaluation plan.

Course Name: Train the Trainer (customized for Canadian Coast Guard)
Length: 2 days
Delivery Method: In-person
Cost: TBD
Skills: Evaluatoin Planning, Feedback For Learning, Lesson Plan Development
Earning Criteria: Earners of this microcredential have demonstrated the ability to draft a lesson plan for their On the Job Training Instructor position, complete with content, activities, and an assessment.

Earners of this microcredential have demonstrated the ability to provide constructive feedback to peers on practice facilitation sessions in a written document outlining the strengths and areas for improvement.

Earners of this microcredential have demonstrated the ability to draft an evaluation plan to use with their trainees. This plan identifies the evaluation strategy(ies) used and rationale behind this choice.
(Reach out to openlearning@dal.ca for more information)

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Language Education

A2 English Language Communication

Microcredential Description: Earners successfully employ both receptive (reading and listening) and productive (writing and speaking) communicative English language skills at the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) level of A2 or above. They are able to identify key information from selected texts; conduct a cultural survey and analyze data; revise, edit, and deliver a formal academic presentation to their peers; and prepare and compose an original academic or professional text.

Course Name: English Language Communication
Length: 60 hours
Delivery Method: TBD
Cost: TBD
Skills: Communication, Presentation, Writing
Earning Criteria: Earners prepared and delivered a formal academic presentation—as well as planned, composed, revised, and edited an original academic or professional text. The final version of both the presentation and the composition were assessed by a language professional using a set rubric based on the appropriate CEFR level, and these assessments achieved a “B” grade or higher on the Dalhousie Grade Scale. Earners achieved a grade of 75% or higher in this course overall.
Standards: Common European Framework for References of Languages (CEFR)
(Contact openlearning@dal.ca for more information)

B1 English Language Communication

Microcredential Description: Earners can successfully employ both receptive (reading and listening) and productive (writing and speaking) communicative English language skills at the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) level of  B1 or above. They are able to identify key information from selected texts; conduct a cultural survey and analyze data; revise, edit, and deliver a formal academic presentation to their peers; and prepare and compose an original academic or professional text.

Course Name: English Language Communication
Length: 60 hours
Delivery Method: TBD
Cost: TBD
Skills: Communication, Presentation, Writing
Earning Criteria: Earners prepared and delivered a formal academic presentation—as well as planned, composed, revised, and edited an original academic or professional text. The final version of both the presentation and the composition were assessed by a language professional using a set rubric based on the appropriate CEFR level, and these assessments achieved a “B” grade or higher on the Dalhousie Grade Scale. Earners achieved a grade of 75% or higher in this course overall.
Standards: Common European Framework for References of Languages (CEFR)
(Contact openlearning@dal.ca for more information)

B2 English Language Communication

Microcredential Description: Earners can successfully employ both receptive (reading and listening) and productive (writing and speaking) communicative English language skills at the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) level of B2 or above. They are able to identify key information from selected texts; conduct a cultural survey and analyze data; revise, edit, and deliver a formal academic presentation to their peers; and prepare and compose an original academic or professional text.

Course Name: English Language Communication
Length: 60 hours
Delivery Method: TBD
Cost: TBD
Skills: Communication, Presentation, Writing
Earning Criteria: Earners prepared and delivered a formal academic presentation—as well as planned, composed, revised, and edited an original academic or professional text. The final version of both the presentation and the composition were assessed by a language professional using a set rubric based on the appropriate CEFR level, and these assessments achieved a “B” grade or higher on the Dalhousie Grade Scale. Earners achieved a grade of 75% or higher in this course overall.
Standards: Common European Framework for References of Languages (CEFR)
(Contact openlearning@dal.ca for more information)

C1 English Language Communication

Microcredential Description: Earners can successfully employ both receptive (reading and listening) and productive (writing and speaking) communicative English language skills at the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) level of  C1 or above. They are able to identify key information from selected texts; conduct a cultural survey and analyze data; revise, edit, and deliver a formal academic presentation to their peers; and prepare and compose an original academic or professional text.

Course Name: English Language Communication
Length: 60 hours
Delivery Method: TBD
Cost: TBD
Skills: Communication, Presentation, Writing
Earning Criteria: Earners prepared and delivered a formal academic presentation—as well as planned, composed, revised, and edited an original academic or professional text. The final version of both the presentation and the composition were assessed by a language professional using a set rubric based on the appropriate CEFR level, and these assessments achieved a “B” grade or higher on the Dalhousie Grade Scale. Earners achieved a grade of 75% or higher in this course overall.
Standards: Common European Framework for References of Languages (CEFR)
(Contact openlearning@dal.ca for more information)

Applying EDIA to Language Education

Microcredential Description: Earners can assess and apply key concepts, principles, and practices of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (EDIA) and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) to their language teaching practice. 

Course Name: Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Access in Language Education
Length: 20 hours
Delivery Method: TBD by client
Cost: TBD
Skills: EDIA Strategy Application, Inclusive Language Education, UDL Implementation
Earning Criteria: Earners of this microcredential prepared a diversity statement to inform their teaching and learning practice that incorporated key concepts, principles, and practices of EDIA and UDL for language education. They applied the knowledge and relevance of EDIA and UDL frameworks and strategies to a detailed lesson plan. These were assessed by a subject matter expert using rubrics. Earners achieved a grade of B or higher (on the Dalhousie Grade Scale) and a grade of 75% or higher in the course.
Standards: UDL Guidelines
(Contact openlearning@dal.ca for more information)

Technology in Language Education

Microcredential Description: Earners can apply key concepts and frameworks for using technology in language education to teach a lesson using one or more digital tools.

Course Name: Technology in Language Education 
Length: 20 hours
Delivery Method: TBD
Cost: TBD
Skills: Applying UDL, Backward Design, Language Instruction, Teaching with Technology
Earning Criteria: Following the Backward Design process and UDL guidelines, earners planned and delivered a language lesson using one or more digital tools or resources. The recorded lesson was assessed by a subject matter expert using a TPACK-informed rubric, and achieved a B grade or higher on the Dalhousie Grade Scale. Earners achieved a grade of 75% or higher in this course overall.
Standards: TPACK Framework
(Contact openlearning@dal.ca for more information)

Strategies for the Internationalization of the Curriculum

Microcredential Description: Earners can critically assess different approaches, trends, ethical issues, and their own professional context to develop strategies to internationalize the curriculum for specific contexts within higher education.

Course Name: Implementation and Leadership of the Internationalization of Cirriculum Initiatives
Length: 16 hours
Delivery Method: TBD
Cost: TBD
Skills: Critical Contextual Analysis, Presentation Skills, Strategy Application
Earning Criteria: Earners of this microcredential used key concepts, frameworks, and trends to critically analyze their own professional context and identify opportunities for the application of IoC strategies. Earners submitted a video presentation to communicate an IoC initiative grounded in the strategies outlined in this course and considered relevant and appropriate to their professional context. This was assessed by a subject matter expert using a rubric. Earners achieved a grade of 75% or higher.
(Contact openlearning@dal.ca for more information)

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MindFrame Connect

High Performance Mentoring of Entrepreneurs

Microcredential Description: Earners are able to conduct long form mentor sessions for entrepreneurs and support a mentee in a high intensity/pressure situation. They are able to utilize principles of equity, diversity and inclusion in their approach, establish a foundation of trust and psychological safety,  demonstrate active listening and questioning techniques, deliver and receive constructive feedback, and identify and categorize mentee goals.

Course Name: MindFrame Connect Advanced Principles of Mentorship
Length: 5 weeks
Delivery Method: In-person
Cost: TBD
Skills: Active Listening, Delivering Feedback, Effective Questioning, Mentoring in Crisis
Earning Criteria: Earners demonstrated their ability to support a mentee through case studies & role play. Earners were evaluated through 20 minute mentor sessions that included high pressure situations. Earners demonstrated active listening & effective questioning. They delivered constructive feedback & identified goals from most pressing to least pressing. A mastery-based learning approach to evaluation was used & minimum standards (based on MindFrame Connect Principles of Mentorship) were met using a rubric.
(Contact openlearning@dal.ca for more information)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a microcredential badge?

A microcredential badge is a digital representation of a specific skill, knowledge, or accomplishment. A microcredential badge can be shared on digital platforms like LinkedIn or resumes to demonstrate proficiency in a specific skill set.

How do microcredentials benefit me?

Dalhousie University's microcredentials can be a powerful tool to help you get noticed and land your next promotion or job. Our microcredentials are created in collaboration with related industries or employers and they represent skills employers are looking for.

Microcredentials are focused learning, meaning you can choose the specific skill that matches your career goal so you won't waste time on unnecessary learning.

Microcredentials are focused on practical skills that you can use right away in real life situations.

How do I earn a microcredential?

Micorcredentials can be earned by the successful completion of a course or through the completion of a competency-based assessment. 

Do microcredentials replace degrees or certificates?

Microcredentials do not replace degree or certificates. They are additional (more specific) evidence of a skill or competency.