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Microcredentials

College of Education Online Programs Microcredentials

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Microcredentials – Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) approved and Online

The primary audience for the ISBE online microcredentials is in-service IL public educators who are seeking to gain expertise on a specific topic and accumulate professional development hours (PDH). Upon successful completion of course requirements, the microcredential will be attached to the Professional Educator License (PEL).

Other audiences for the ISBE Online microcredentials include teacher educator licensure candidates from the College of Education (CoE) and elsewhere. This would include students in teacher education and other programs like principal and superintendent preparation(undergraduates and graduates), including CoE UG teacher education students. It is expected that completing ISBE online microcredentials will position the licensure candidates better for jobs and equip them with valuable skills for their teaching education careers.

The Council on Teacher Education (CoTE) is an ISBE approved professional development (PD) provider and manages microcredential processes on behalf of the university. CoTE provides information about professional development and microcredentials for Illinois public educators and ensures ISBE microcredential course design is in compliance with ISBE requirements.

Professional Development Hours (PDH): Each ISBE online microcredential will result in PDH. In-service teachers could earn PDH to apply towards their 5-year continuing education requirements for licensure.

Platform: All fee-based ISBE online microcredentials offered by COE will be offered through Canvas Catalog. Content delivery, course registration and course fee payment will take place on this portal.

Course Duration and Pacing: Learners can enroll in a course whenever they want and complete it at their own pace. However, to facilitate learner course completion, course duration will be set to one year. If a learner does not finish the course within a year after enrolling in the course, they will have to reenroll by paying the course fees again.

Credential Awards: Course instructors will provide CoTE and the Office of Online Programs (OOP) the names of learners who complete the course successfully. CoTE will process completion records to apply microcredentials to an educator's PEL. Credentials will be issued using Accredible by OOP to learners.

Culturally Responsive Teaching and Leading: The Magnitude of Us

The Magnitude of Us Learning Series invites educators and leaders to reflect deeply on identity, positionality, and community as foundations for culturally responsive teaching and leading.

Effective AI Integration for Classroom Teachers

A job-embedded microcredential for K-12 teachers: build a classroom AI use policy, design an AI-integrated lesson, communicate with families, and reflect on your practice. 40 PDH, self-paced over 12 months.

Effective AI Integration for School Principals

A job-embedded microcredential for K-12 principals: build a school AI integration plan, design teacher professional learning, and communicate with stakeholders. 40 PDH, self-paced over 12 months.

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Strategic AI Implementation and District Policy Development for Superintendents

A job-embedded microcredential for Illinois superintendents: craft a district AI policy, build a strategic implementation roadmap, and lead your board and community forward. 40 PDH, self-paced over 12 months.

Teaching Equitable Asian American Community History (TEAACH)

This professional development series, workshop, and webinar all cover the the American Asian History for all Educators through an Inclusive Lens.

Trauma-Informed Education

This program is composed of modules focusing on trauma-informed strategies tailored to your grade level. Completing this program will result in a PEL transcriptable microcredential.

Unlearning the Hush

The Unlearning the Hush Learning Series calls us to reflect on how history, advocacy, and storytelling continue to shape today’s classrooms and leadership spaces.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will this affect my academic performance or work evaluations? Can I earn credit?

No, you cannot earn academic credit with these courses. Microcredentials earned from the College of Education are non-credit. However, Professional Development hours are offered along with a microcredential on your Professional Educator License (PEL) through the Illinois State Board of Education.

Your employer may use these microcredentials to determine your expertise in certain areas.

Do I need any prior qualifications to take these courses?

No prior qualifications are required to enroll in these courses however these courses are specifically designed for current Teachers in Illinois.

How long do the courses take to complete?

Please view individual microcredential pages for completion times.

What support is available if I have trouble with the course?

Licensure questions: info@cote.illinois.edu

PDH questions: pdh@cote.illinois.edu

Technical Support questions: Submit a Help Request

Tuition Waiver questions: waivers@cote.illinois.edu

Where can I verify that these are ISBE Approved?

Please view the Standards and Instruction web page on the Illinois State Board of Education website to verify that these programs are approved.

Will you approve PDs or CEUs for people who are out of State?

We recommend that you contact your State Board of Education Office individually to see if they will approve any of the programs we offer. These courses are designed with approval from the Illinois State Board of Education in mind.

Microcredentials