The Mercy Multicredential

Recognising limitless possibilities.

The Mercy Multicredential is a way for students to collate, annotate and submit evidence of capabilities generated across the school experience. Students who complete a portfolio are able to have it validated and recognised as a national credential, above and beyond other credentials they receive as they progress through school. It gives students agency and leadership of their unique pathway.

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Overview

Information on this page is provided by the innovator and has not been evaluated by HundrED.

Web presence

2023

Established

600

Children

1

Countries

Target group

Students lower

Updated

May 2023

Students take ownership of their school experience, actively pursuing pathways that matter to them whilst also meeting and exceeding school expectations. I hope that fewer students feel disengaged from school when they see that engagement results in skills and capabilities that are valued by the world. I hope that curricula can become more dynamic and meaningful to young people.

About the innovation

Why did you create this innovation?

Not every student will get first place, but every student can achieve their personal best. The ways in which we recognise this growth is rarely understood by organisations and individuals outside of education. We wanted to find a way that we could recognise the entire school experience of students and their growth in a way that makes sense to the outside world.

What does your innovation look like in practice?

We give students the agency to create their own portfolios of evidence within our Learning Management System, along several pathways, balancing the requirements of a national credential with the unique journeys of each student. Students can submit evidence from a range of different activities for each level (badge), drawing upon curriculum, wellbeing, co-curricular activities and other experiences such as excursions and even part time work. These badges are mapped to a national framework, agreed with our partners AlphaCrucis University College, which enables students to not only build a highly sophisticated set of evidence, but translate that portfolio into a single, clear credential that is recognised by employers and higher education authorities. We use an agreed framework and method to ensure that every piece of evidence is validated according to agreed standards, thus enabling an efficient and effective method of curating valid evidence.

How has it been spreading?

Having just launched in April 2023, we have already seen several students progress through the first badge level from multiple year groups. We have had interest and engagement from all year levels, including final year students (who have significant demands on their time). Our goals are to review and streamline the process as much as possible, offer samples and further guidance to students who may struggle with the process, and embed the Multicredential across the school experience, including adding specific reference to particular assessment tasks or activities that students undertake.

If I want to try it, what should I do?

To find out more about the Mercy Multicredential, you can visit our web page at https://www.olmc.nsw.edu.au/learning/mercy-multicredential/ and contact the Innovations and Partnerships team at Our Lady of Mercy College Parramatta.

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Implementation steps

Build a bespoke framework

1. Find a partner that will help build a robust framework that matches your school context and national/regional requirements 2. Co-design the structure of the framework 3. Check that it makes sense for students and colleagues.

Create the pathways

1. Using technologies that currently exist in your school, build out pathways for students to submit evidence 2. Use language and approaches that make sense in your context - do not use unnecessary jargon 3. Test the pathways with students

Pilot

1. Roll out a pathway to a select group of students 2. Track what types of evidence are being submitted, and the quality of these artefacts in relation to framework expectations 3. Give feedback to students on each piece of evidence 4. Ask for feedback from students.

Gather allies and supporters

1. Reach out to colleagues with appropriate experience, skills and enthusiasm for something different. 2. Create a project team who can assist with the implementation 3. Keep it simple - be clear about what you want from the team, even if it is simply advice along the way