Stephen Downes

Knowledge, Learning, Community

This two part article (part 1, part 2) looks at the reasons why people are interested in microcredentials and argues that "successful implementation depends on a common definition, stackability and industry relevancy." By 'stackability' we mean that smaller credentials can be combined to form larger credentials, like full certificates and degrees. Also, there is a concern that breaking education into smaller components may means that "some important transferable skills and knowledge may be lost" unless microcredentials are thought of as a part of the greater whole. But I would observe that this is the whole reusability paradox all over again: the more tied a microcredential is to a specific degree or outcome, the less well it stands along as a portable credential in its own right.

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Stephen Downes Stephen Downes, Casselman, Canada
stephen@downes.ca

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Last Updated: Aug 28, 2025 9:03 p.m.

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