Certification isn’t just for students. Teachers around the world see value in continuing education and increasing their knowledge of 21st century skills through educator certifications, such as Microsoft’s Microsoft Certified Educator (MCE) program. Find out what Romania is doing to empower educators with the skills needed to successfully incorporate technology into their classrooms.
What’s Happening in Romania?
The Microsoft Certified Educator certification program has been adapted to the Romanian education context and has been launched across the country, as the Romanian Ministry of Education empowers educators across the country with a new teaching guide, 21st Century Learning Design.
In order to support teachers in Romania in the development of digital skills and abilities, EOS Foundation, Certipro Education, and Microsoft Romania partnered together to develop this new methodological guide.
21st Century Learning Design
The 21st Century Learning Design methodology helps teachers design and adapt new learning models to more holistically incorporate digital technology in order to improve the effectiveness of teaching across all subjects.
The methodological guide describes six criteria for learning in the 21st century:
- Collaboration
- Communication skills
- Knowledge building
- Real-world problem solving and innovation
- Using ICT for learning
- Self-regulation of learning
Mastering these six criteria prepares teachers who want to validate their knowledge with the Microsoft Certified Educator certification exam, Teaching with the help of technology. This globally recognized certification is developed by Microsoft and delivered in Romania by Certipro Education.
Not only do teachers earn a certification from tech-giant, Microsoft, they also receive 15 professional development credits from the Ministry of Education and Research. Microsoft Romania is generously making 250 free MCE certifications available to the educational community through Teaching Staff Houses.
Who’s Taking the MCE Exam and Why?
The MCE certification is recommended for pre-university teachers, students preparing to become teachers in the classroom, teachers in the stage of initial or continuing training, educational advisers and other professionals in the field of education who want to certify their skills. MCE certified teachers can prove that they have the skills to exploit the use of digital technology in their teaching.
“MCE is designed for educators, as opposed to students. It’s not about validating educators’ digital skills, but about validating their knowledge of how to use digital technologies for more effective teaching. MCE certification provides teachers with a globally recognized certification and validates their knowledge of integrating technology into the learning process. As a training provider for teachers, EOS Foundation has developed study materials to prepare educators to obtain this certification and we support teachers in obtaining a truly important credential in education for the 21st century" , said Laurențiu Bunescu, Director of Digital Education Programs at EOS Romania Foundation.
"Teaching methods need to evolve in order that the benefits offered by digital technology are exploited, such that students’ learning can be improved. We understand that in order to have a solid training for jobs over 10, 20 or 30 years, we must start in the classroom. With that goal in mind, we developed solutions to familiarize educators with new technologies, helping them update their teaching methods. Schools around the world are taking place primarily online. This environment, coupled with the MCE certification and the new guide, provides an opportunity for teachers learn how to use digital technologies to improve their teaching and earn an internationally recognized certification,” commented Daniel Rusen, Marketing and Operations Director, Microsoft Romania.
Interested in Learning More?
The 21st Century Learning Design guide and other important information about this program can be found here.