We partnered with Accredible to provide Saylor Academy certificates not because Accredible certificates can be printed or saved as a PDF (they can, but our certificates have done that for ages).
We partnered with Accredible because their certificates can be used in a wide variety of ways and get even better when you put more investment into them.
Briefly, your Accredible certificates:
- can be shared on LinkedIn with the click of a button
- can be shared by private or public link and on both Twitter and Facebook at the click of a button
- can be displayed on other webpages
- can be connected to many different kinds of evidence items, such as course grades, photos, course notes, projects, videos, and personal/professional references
Your Saylor Academy course completion certificate is not just a single document, then, but a portfolio of your work -- a collection of evidence that serves to prove that you know what you claim to know and that you can do what you claim to be able to do.
Students sometimes ask, "What can I do with my certificate? What value does it have?" Our response is this: the certificate has the value that you put into it and we believe that you can do with it more than you might immediately think.
When you link to your certificate, you are showing an employer, teacher, colleague, or client as much evidence and history for that course as you care to muster.
For any course, ask yourself this question:
What would be good evidence of what I know and am able to do?
Use your answer to that question to help you identify the best evidence items to add to Accredible.
Is your course in business administration? You could upload an original business plan or marketing plan. You could seek and post a reference from a colleague, boss, mentor, or client.
Is your course in computer science? Post some code samples or links to websites, apps, or other projects available on the Web.
Is your course in English Composition? Post your fully-developed essay with an introduction on how you went from the blank page to a finished product.
Is your course in History? Propose to yourself a meaningful research question "go deep" on an original project or essay.
For any course, your notes or a learner's journal or blog would be a fantastic addition.
At the end of the day, if you are happy with a straightforward certificate, that's great! Accredible certificates fulfill that role admirably. But Accredible certificates also expand with your ideas and ambitions; if you have some time and energy into making a real case for what you have learned, the tools are right here for you to use!
Here is a live example certificate that may give you some great ideas.
By the way, we would love to see what you've done with your certificates! Drop us a line or mention us on Facebook or Twitter!