Communication Standards

Professional Development Credit – Professional Development Credit – This Micro-Credential may be eligible for continuing professional development credit in your state. Contact your state affiliateassociation to learn more.

Overview – The Communication Standards Micro-Credential requires that the practitioner demonstrates proficiency of all the essential outcomes and the research-based subskills defined in the details. These include demonstrating a collaborative, strategic process that leads stakeholders’ conversations to set communication expectations, norms, and standard while modeling and providing the necessary supports and resources for all stakeholders to communicate effectively as part of the plan for improvement. In addition, demonstrating the ability to support stakeholders to communication and advocate for their school.

Essential Outcomes – Communication Standards identifies the following five essential outcomes:

1. Collaborate to develop and implement communication norms and skills that promote effective communication with and among all stakeholders.
2. Engage all stakeholders in meaningful communication that advocates for needs and shares accomplishments in order to move the organization forward in improvement efforts.
3. Facilitate and support stakeholders by providing evidence-based and systematic protocols for difficult conversations.
4. Provide evidence of understanding that communication is both verbal and non-verbal and demonstrates approachability to students, staff and other stakeholders.
5. Provides a plan with strategies, implementation timelines, evaluation, and monitoring process to establish best practice in facilitating communication standards for all stakeholders.

Requirements

Part 1. Overview Questions

Develop a responsive narrative that answers the following questions (1,000-word minimum):

1. What steps did you take to collaboratively create communication norms for your organization and who did you included in the collaboration?
2. How have you helped stakeholders develop needed communication skills within your organization which enables them to share school needs and successes?
3. What protocol(s) is (are) used within your organization to conduct difficult conversations?
4. How have you modeled effective verbal and nonverbal communication skills to stakeholders?
5. What specific areas do you and your organization need to continue to improve in terms of communication planning and protocols?

Part 2. Skill Demonstration Product with Self-Analysis

Develop an artifact portfolio that captures the essential outcomes for the Communication Standards Micro-Credential and complete the evidence self-analysis.

For each EO detail you will be required to reference an uploaded artifact(s) and guide the assessor to the specific evidence (page number, video time stamp, etc.) within the uploaded artifact(s). An explanation of how the evidence demonstrates proficiency of the outcome detail is also required. The practitioner must clearly and compellingly demonstrate proficiency of every detail under each essential outcome.

Part 3. Reflection & Application

Submit, in writing, a summary of your experience of Communication Standards (500-word minimum); highlight and provide specific examples of how you applied the five essential outcomes and details of Communication Standards. This could include topics covered and how you supported the school leader and worked directly to develop a plan to improve. Include a reflection about the impact of this skill on your professional practice and how you will continue to apply it in the future.