For those new to the
concept, crowdfunding refers to a method of raising money from a large
number of small investors,
typically through an online portal or platform, in order to finance a new business venture.
Where microcredentials pertain to teachers rather than students, I think the
concept is an outstanding way to do a
number of things in the area of professional development: 1) recognize professional learning milestones to inspire continuous improvement; 2) move away from a one - size - fits - all (and oft debunked) approach to salary schedules, which
typically depend exclusively on time served and postsecondary attainment; 3) move towards recognition of skill development on an a la carte basis rather than solely as part of an advanced degree program; and 4) generate more personalized and self - paced professional learning opportunities.