(Photo by Zachary Meseck)

CHENANGO – DCMO BOCES shared the news of a new Career Destinations Micro-Credentials program that grants students digital badges upon completion of training criteria.  The implementation process began this fall with the development of  Career and Technical Education program badges to l certify achievement according to rigorous criteria for program completion and skills development benchmarks.  

Badging according to Forbes magazine is one of the hot rising ideas in the education space.  According to Perry Dewey, District Superintendent at DCMO BOCES, these badges strengthen a commitment to employers to best prepare students for the job.  “To earn a badge, the student must complete a series of steps that demonstrate proficiency in the credentialing process.  We are looking for employers to share their workplace requirements with our team to customize badges that connect the classroom teaching to the job needs,” said Dewey.

The journey to developing comprehensive micro-credentialing badges is complex.  Multiple team players, according to Career and Technical Education Director Jennifer Waite, must be taken into account.  “The badging process engages educators with the needs of employers and breaks down the requirements according to the skills a student must master in order to secure the accreditation,” said Waite.

When asked about the benefits of earning a badge, Waite said, “The digital badge tells employers that the student has completed classroom training that meets the job requirements.  These badges attached to employment sites and offer a visual representation of the type of preparation the student has completed to enter the workforce.”

The program will be coordinated by Christina McCall-Hopkins who is the Career Destinations Coordinator at DCMO BOCES.  Mrs. McCall-Hopkins encouraged parents to visit the DCMO BOCES website to learn more about the advantages of encouraging students to pursue badges. “Our students deserve the opportunity to access the same leading-edge technology used by colleges and other large institutions in the country.  DCMO BOCES is proud to bring this resource to the 16 component schools we serve,” said Dewey.

An electronic page with more information is available at the DCMO BOCES website accessible at www.dcmoboces.com.  The Career Destinations Program is an initiative of DCMO BOCES to connect students to local colleges, jobs, and career opportunities.