The world of academic credentials is going through a rapid change that has seen the emergence of alternate digital credentials. Among these are micro-certificates, digital diplomas, and open digital badges, which provide a digital record of learning and have the possibility of not only altering the landscape of academic credentials but also transforming the relationship between institutions of higher education, their learners, and society. As institutions turn their attention to alternate digital credentials, it is important to learn from what others have experienced. Innovations in the Design and Application of Alternative Digital Credentials identifies innovative examples of the use of alternate digital credentials to validate specific skills within an existing academic program or on their own. Alternate digital credentials may be how specific skills (hard or soft) are validated with an emphasis on their relationship to enhance employability and recognition within an industry. Covering a wide range of topics such as micro-credentials, badge-driven learning, and traditional credentials, this handbook is ideal for researchers, students, academicians, and administrative decision makers, as well as those who support and finance learning systems and theories and those already involved in the design and application of alternate digital credentials at the post-secondary level.

The SAGE Handbook of Online Higher Education presents a cutting-edge collection of 50 essays that explores the rapidly evolving landscape of online teaching and learning in higher education. Assembled and contributed by a team of leading experts, the Handbook adopts a uniquely holistic approach to examining the needs of online education. Chapters bring together voices from diverse and international backgrounds to provide insights applicable to a broad range of contexts, and present practical strategies for planning, delivering quality online higher education. The handbook covers a wide range of topics, including online pedagogy, instructional design, student engagement, technological innovation, assessment, leadership, and the developing role of online education in the context of broader societal and cultural shifts. The SAGE Handbook of Online Higher Education is an essential resource for educators, researchers, policymakers, and practitioners who seek to understand and shape the future of higher education in the digital age. Section 1: Fundamentals of Online Education Section 2: Online Education Around the World Section 3: Online Instructional Design Section 4: Online Instructional Delivery Section 5: Instructional Technology for Online Education Section 6: Online Education Administration and Management Section 7: Student Support Services

With increasingly interconnected educational and employment ecosystems, credential innovations are trailblazing multiple pathways to professions at a pivotal moment of rapid change. In the current state of credential proliferation, the quest for simultaneous improvement of quality and value reflects heightened cross-sector interests, while at the same time the quest for concurrent enhancement of access and success remains. With the evolving educational models, technologies, and organizations, credential innovations will continue to serve as powerful catalysts in realizing the great promise for inclusive pathways to professions. The Handbook of Research on Credential Innovations for Inclusive Pathways to Professions surveys the state of credential innovations, examines trends and issues, and explores models and strategies with case studies across sectors and disciplines. The 21 chapters are organized in three sections. Section I, Credential Innovations Amid Evolving Ecosystems, features a powerful array of change theories-in-action with topics ranging from conceptual re-visioning to organizational restructuring and programmatic reengineering within evolving ecosystems. Section II, Credential Innovations and Propositions Across Sectors, spotlights diverse approaches to and propositions of credentials within complex socio-economic landscapes across education, business, and technology industries. Section III, Credential Innovation Models and Strategies, showcases institutional innovations ranging from model developments, pedagogical approaches, and personalized engagements to outcome measurements and strategies for sustainable implementation. Lessons learned and implications are explored to share promising practices, inform current development, and influence future policies toward inclusive excellence in education and the workplace.

The time has come to refine the education ecosystem in such a way that it generates wealth-creating careers, personalized learning, and upskilling for all types of employment opportunities so that the current and next generation of the world can find long-term social stability, sound mental health, and financial agility. From an educator’s point of view, this is possible through high-quality education that is relevant to a particular society and effective educational policies that promote a culture of innovation, encourage risk-taking, and continuously monitor productivity through the training and development of teachers. Innovations in Teacher Development, Personalized Learning, and Upskilling the Workforce disseminates the best practices on high-quality education, teaching training, teacher/student entrepreneurship, and wealth-generating careers. It presents information on refining education through teacher development sessions and training. Covering topics such as capacity building, personalized learning, and teacher trainee development, this book is an excellent resource for educators and administrators of K-12 and higher education, academic advisors, preservice teachers, teacher educators, policymakers, librarians, researchers, and academicians.

In the world of academia, the divide between groundbreaking research and real-world impact has been a persistent challenge. Scholars, researchers, and academic inventors often find themselves grappling with the intricate process of turning their innovative ideas into tangible solutions that can benefit society, and also secure funding. This disconnect not only leads to the underutilization of valuable intellectual resources but also results in missed opportunities to address pressing societal issues. Moreover, technology transfer offices often struggle with knowledge disparities between inventors and managers, hindering the efficient commercialization of groundbreaking inventions. Converting Ideas to Innovation With Lean Canvas for Invention emerges as a beacon of hope, offering a transformative solution to this longstanding problem. This book introduces the Lean Canvas for Invention (LCI), an academic tool meticulously crafted to bridge the gap between academic research and real-world innovation. The LCI serves as a compass, guiding academic scholars through the complex journey from idea inception to successful commercialization. It equips researchers with the essential knowledge and strategies needed to identify societal problems, develop inventive solutions, secure grants, and navigate the intricate landscape of technology transfer.

Open, distance, and blended learning environments have increased globally in recent years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Stakeholders in the educational sector are facing new challenges on how to take advantage of the knowledge, skills, and experiences gained during the pandemic and, more importantly, how to move forward towards digitally transforming education. Emerging Trends and Historical Perspectives Surrounding Digital Transformation in Education: Achieving Open and Blended Learning Environments identifies cases, best practices, and experiences that highlight digital transformation via online, blended, and open learning environments at all levels and discusses how digital transformation can be achieved. The book also examines the influence of leadership, human resources, knowledge, skills, processes, and technologies in promoting digital transformation. Covering topics such as open learning, digital learning, online teaching, and learner support, this reference work is ideal for teachers, instructional designers, curriculum developers, IT consultants, educational software developers, policymakers, industry professionals, researchers, academicians, practitioners, and students.