The rise of small, skills-focused credentials, also known as micro-credentials, has garnered considerable attention in recent years. By offering micro-credentials, institutions of higher education can provide additional credential options, thereby attracting more diverse audiences beyond degree-seekers. However, amidst their growth, fundamental…

The University of North Georgia's division of Distance Education & Technology Integration, DETI, developed a series of self-paced workshops to assist faculty in professional development as a response to faculty inquiries and the pandemic. The pandemic changed the way we look at our professional development opportunities. DETI concluded that we…

Background: Micro-credentials are increasingly considered a key mechanism through which to empower learners by enabling flexible upskilling and reskilling. Despite their apparent importance for higher education institutions (HEIs) and learners, empirical research is limited. More needs to be understood, particularly about the ways in which…

The aim of this research is to give an overview of the psycho-didactical model of Engineering Pedagogy, as the basis of effective STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts (Design), Mathematics) teaching and instructional design. Attributes of engineering graduates and basic skills of 21st century graduates are presented. The competency model…

The pandemic has changed the way we look at our professional development opportunities. UNG's Distance Education & Technology Integration (DETI) made the decision to completely revamp our professional development options. In 2012 we first developed a self-paced fully online workshop to onboard new online/hybrid faculty quickly and efficiently.…

The Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte is helping to shape the futures of learning in diverse ways. In this paper, we describe a recently implemented micro-credential option for faculty and graduate students, the Essentials of Teaching and Learning Certificate Program. We also report findings…

College instructors are critical to increasing completion rates and creating more equitable educational opportunities that position all learners for upward mobility. Yet, few have received formal, comprehensive training in inclusive teaching practices that positively affect student learning, improve retention and completion rates, and close equity…

According to the National Center for Education Statistics (2022), the number of college students enrolled in at least one online course was approximately 11 million during the 2021-2022 school year. Knowing that institutes of higher education (IHEs) are responsible for teaching students who are primarily online learners, special education teacher…

Micro-credentials (MCs) are gaining traction in higher education, aligning with Open, Flexible, and Distance Learning (OFDL) ideals. Despite the growing interest, their full impact on academia is still being debated. This highlights the need for research into the institutional factors essential for integrating MCs successfully, particularly as…

Artificial intelligence (AI) has taken the world by storm, with new AI-powered tools such as ChatGPT opening up new opportunities in higher education for content creation, communication, and learning, while also raising new concerns about the misuses and overreach of technology. Our shared humanity has also become a key focal point within higher…