A Guide to Innovation in the Adoption of Alternative Digital Credentials

This chapter provides a guidance to universities that desire to adopt quality standards and effective procedures for the issuance of alternative digital credentials (ADCs). Its underlying message is that universities must become involved in issuing ADCs if they are to continue to serve the public in relevant ways. It lists the strong reasons for the institutional adoption of ADCs, the barriers to adoption, and then provides advice on how to design an institutional icon (badge), criteria for the issuance of ADCs, the standardization of ADC metadata, choosing an ADC platform, establishing governance and oversight, and establishing an administrative structure. This chapter argues strongly for the adoption of competency-based assessments in contrast to assessments focused only on learning achievement assessments. This comprehensive guide is based on the experience of three universities which have successfully implemented comprehensive ADC issuance programs.