MCE’s Assistant Director, Dan Piedra, publishes book on alternative digital credentials

The world of academic credentials is going through rapid change that has seen the emergence of alternate digital credentials. Discover how micro-certificates, digital diplomas, and open digital badges are not only changing the landscape of academic credentials but transforming the relationship between higher education institutions, learners and society.

Join McMaster Continuing Education’s Assistant Director, Dan Piedra, as he explores the emergence of alternate digital credentials in his recently published handbook, Innovations in the Design and Application of Alternative Digital Credentials.

Covering a wide range of topics such as micro-credentials, badge-driven learning, and traditional credentials, this handbook explores innovative examples on the use of alternate digital credentials within an existing academic program or on their own.

For more information or to purchase your copy, please visit: Innovations in the Design and Application of Alternative Digital Credentials

Dan Piedra currently serves as an Assistant Director at McMaster University Continuing Education in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. He oversees online course design and development including all certificate and diploma programs offered within the centre.

Previously, he has served in similar positions at Sheridan College in Oakville, Ontario and as Director of Conestoga College’s Continuing Education department in Kitchener, Ontario. He has also served as an instructor of online and in-person programs at several institutions of higher education including Brock University in St. Catharines, Ontario. He completed his Bachelor of Education and Master of Science at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah and is currently working on a PhD in Education from Brock University. His research interests lie in exploring quality of online learning in areas of instructor training, instructional design, humanization of online courses, the use of non-traditional assessments, alternate digital credentials, and student empowerment.