Micro-Credentials
Boost your career and develop skills and knowledge at your own pace.
Micro-Credentials Designed for K-12 Educators
Micro-credentials are digital badges showcasing your expertise, competency and practical knowledge of in-demand skills for today’s workforce. A verified micro-credential confirms to current or future employers that you are proficient in a specific topic, and that you have completed a rigorous, high-quality training in real-world skills related to that topic.
UMS micro-credentials are made up of stacked digital badges, which highlight the skills employers are seeking. They are offered to UMS students and as professional development opportunities for individuals in the workforce to advance or increase their marketability. Micro-credentials earned through UMS are verified, competency-based, and shareable.
As you progress along your micro-credential path you will receive milestone badges:
College of Education and Human Development Micro-credential Pathways
Overview: Mathematics is a key skill for PK-12 students during school and beyond it, from learning to add to creating a budget to figuring the square footage of carpeting. Educators who complete this micro-credential will gain a foundational knowledge of instructional practices for mathematics in Level 1. In Level 2, educators will apply their knowledge of the fundamentals of mathematics instructional practices and reflect on how their instruction aligns to these. Level 3 provides educators an opportunity to create and implement two mathematics lessons for the K-5 classroom.
Learning Outcomes:
To earn this micro-credential, learners will:
Type: Non-Credit
Delivery Mode: Asynchronous Online
Cost: None
Contact: Associate Professor of Mathematics Education and Instructional Technology Justin Dimmel, justin.dimmel@maine.edu.
Who is eligible to register: Educators, including paraprofessionals, general education teachers, pre-service teachers, special education teachers, and other school staff who help support students’ learning.
Overview: The Science of Reading is an interdisciplinary body of research examining how people learn to read and evidence-based approaches and principles for educators who teach reading and literacy in PK-12 schools. Educators who complete this micro-credential will learn about the “Big 5” of reading — phonological awareness, phonics and decoding, fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary, as well as spelling. Level 1 offers an introduction to the Science of Reading, while Levels 2 and 3 provide opportunities to practice applying skills and knowledge around the Science of Reading and reading instruction. Learners will evaluate their own instructional methods and implement a Science of Reading-aligned instructional sequence.
Learning Outcomes:
To earn this micro-credential, learners will:
Type: Non-Credit
Delivery Mode: Asynchronous Online
Cost: None
Contact: Associate Professor of Special Education Sara Flanagan, sara.flanagan@maine.edu.
Who is eligible to register: Educators, including paraprofessionals, general education teachers, pre-service teachers, special education teachers, and other school staff who help support students’ learning.
Overview: Nationwide, about 15% of all PK-12 students are identified with a disability and receive special education services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). In Maine, about 21% of students fall under this category. Because of this, educators see the importance of understanding how to support all students, including those with disabilities. Educators, including educational technicians, who complete this micro-credential will learn key concepts, legal requirements, and practices related to supporting students with disabilities. Level 1 provides foundational knowledge of special education such as the history of special education, relevant laws (e.g., IDEA) and regulations, disability categories, and Universal Design for Learning (UDL). Level 2 gives learners an opportunity to apply evidence-based concepts such as high-leverage practices, differentiated instructional supports, and teaching methods by observing and reflecting on special education practices in their schools. Level 3 applies all concepts in Levels 1 and 2 by responding to and reflecting on case studies.
Learning Outcomes:
To earn this micro-credential, learners will:
Type: Non-Credit
Delivery Mode: Asynchronous Online
Cost: None
Contact: Associate Professor of Special Education Sara Flanagan, sara.flanagan@maine.edu.
Who is eligible to register: Educators, including paraprofessionals, general education teachers, pre-service teachers, and other school staff who help support students’ learning.
Overview: PBIS is a nationally recognized, multi-tiered framework providing a continuum of supports to all students, promoting positive academic, social, emotional and behavioral outcomes. There are now more than 100 schools across the state implementing this framework, with more being added each year. We need more trainers and coaches to provide support to school-based teams. The Maine PBIS Tier 1 Trainer and Coach micro-credential was created through a partnership between the University of Maine System (UMS) and the Maine Department of Education to help more people become qualified to serve as PBIS trainers and coaches. Read on to learn more about the requirements and expectations for earning this micro-credential.
Learning Outcomes:
Upon completion of this micro-credential, learners will have developed the following skills and competencies:
Type: Credit-bearing (graduate)
Delivery Mode: Hybrid/Blended. Academic courses are offered online; observation, training, and coaching may require in-state travel.
Cost: Thanks to Maine DOE support, there is no cost for the micro-credential beyond the related credit-bearing coursework and conference registrations.
Contact: UMaine PBIS Initiative Coordinator Courtney Angelosante at courtney.angelosante@maine.edu, or Research Associate/Maine PBIS Coordinator Karen Robbie at karen.robbie@maine.edu.
To apply: Applications open annually in the spring. Sign up for the Maine PBIS listserv (External Link) to receive updates. If you currently work in a school or district, you will need to obtain and submit a letter of district approval for participation.