Your Guide to Course Accreditation
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Actions
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Download Matrices via the Accreditation & Authorization menu of your icagile.com profile. Review the Learning Outcomes and Acceptance Criteria.
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Review Instructor Requirements to ensure candidate instructors have the necessary domain experience.
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Important: if you're seeking to accredit a coaching course (i.e. ICP-ACC, ICP-ENT, ICP-CAT), at least one instructor should meet our professional coaching requirements before you begin work on the course.
Tips
- Not sure which course to accredit? Contact partnership@icagile.com for helpful insights.
- If you already have one or more accredited courses, consider accrediting the next course in the Learning Track.
- Visit our website for the latest pricing.
Actions
- Review the Rubric to get familiar with design requirements.
- Review our Best Practices Exceptional Learning Experiences
- Determine the flow of your course. Think about how many sessions you'll need, how long each will be, and how much time between sessions.
- Consider the environment(s) in which your course will be delivered and design accordingly. For example, consider how exercises will differ.
- Schedule an Early Course Feedback Session once you have a high-level course outline, a section of content (think 2-3 hours worth) including instructor guidance, and have the content mapped to the matrix. Book this session via the Schedule a Session page.
Tips
- Note the required minimum hours on the cover page of the matrix. At least 80% of the minimum hours should be covered via synchronous, instructor-led learning.
- The order of the Learning Outcomes (LOs) within the matrix isn't meant to dictate the order you cover them in your course. Cover the LOs in the order you believe will provide the best experience.
- We recommend starting at the theme level of the Learning Outcomes in the design phase.
- You do not need an activity for each Learning Outcome. One activity may meet several outcomes.
- Not sure what a Learning Outcome means? Contact learning@icagile.com.
About the Instructor Guidance
The instructor/facilitator guidance is your playbook to keep the course delivery on track and ensure all Learning Outcomes are met. It does not need to be a dedicated artifact, it may take the form of a word document, spreadsheet, slide notes, canvas, etc.
Actions
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Develop all course materials including:
- Instructor Guidance. Be sure to include important things to remember when delivering specific exercises (e.g. set-up, instructions, debrief). This may also be referenced as a facilitator guide.
- Timeline. This is a schedule showing when each topic should be covered as well as where exercises and activities fit into the flow. This may be part of your facilitation guidance.
- Instructor Guidance. Be sure to include important things to remember when delivering specific exercises (e.g. set-up, instructions, debrief). This may also be referenced as a facilitator guide.
- Complete the Course Evaluation Matrix, taking care to complete it at both the Learning Outcome level and Theme level.
- Incorporate feedback from the Early Course Feedback Session.
Tips
- Watch this video about how to correctly map the matrix.
- Think of the Theme-Level Acceptance Criteria as your definition of done for the topic. It's okay to reference the same material here as you have for the Learning Outcomes below.
- Keep in mind that up to 20% of the minimum required hours for the course may be covered through asynchronous learning (e.g. pre- and post-course readings).
- If you're stuck on how to cover a specific topic, contact learning@icagile.com.
- Remember that you will be able (and encouraged) to continuously improve your course in response to feedback after it's accredited.
About the ICAgile Required Content
We ask that all ICAgile-accredited courses incorporate the following:
- Welcome Video - A brief message from our team celebrating why it's important that your course is accredited by ICAgile.
- End of Class Video - An opportunity to encourage learners to continue on their learning journey. It also sets expectations about next steps for claiming the certification.
- Slides - No need to include this entire slide deck, we simply ask that you 1) show learners where this course lies within ICAgile's larger learning journeys, and 2) share key details of the specific certification they will earn in the class.
Actions
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Refer to our Session Readiness Checklist to ensure you're ready to provide all required artifacts.
- Schedule Your Session when you are confident in your ability to provide all materials at least 3 full business days in advance of the session date. Up to two course designers may attend, and Account Managers can schedule a time here.
- New Instructors need to prepare a 10-minute teachback of the course. If time allows, and at the accreditor's discretion, we may have time to assess one candidate instructor in the Course Accreditation Session.
Tips
- Make sure your materials are in early. Our accreditors will often be able to provide their feedback prior to the session. This allows you time to review their feedback and understand the questions they have in advance.
- If you're submitting materials in a language other than English, please provide them in a format that we can easily translate.
- If you can't use Google Drive, you can send materials directly to team@icagile.com
Actions
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The accreditor will take you through their initial round of feedback, focusing on the areas where they have questions. This conversation will help them understand your course and your intention behind how a Learning Outcome is met. By the end of the session you will understand the changes that are needed in order to accredit your course.
- Let us know if your preferred meeting platform is not Zoom so we can schedule the meeting on your preferred platform. We may ask you to set up the meeting on that platform and provide us a link.
- Ensure your accreditor has access to all materials including any tools for teaching remotely (e.g. Mural, LMS).
Tips
- The session will be recorded for auditing purposes, please come prepared accordingly.
- Be prepared to participate via both audio and video.
- Ensure you have a strong internet connection and are in a place that will minimize distractions.
- Have all materials, including the completed matrix with the accreditor's notes, handy.
- Be prepared to speak to how you will assess learners for certification based on the Acceptance Criteria.
Actions
- Make any required changes, upload your changes to the original session folder, and contact your accreditor. ICAgile offers one complimentary follow-up session, if needed. Once the accreditor receives the changes, they will let you know if there are any further steps or if a follow-up session is need.
- Provide your course title and description to team@icagile.com once the course has been formally approved.
- Prepare your instructors for Instructor Authorization Sessions.
Tips
- Be sure to complete any required changes within six months of your session. After six months, we will consider any incomplete sessions concluded.
- Check our Marketing Kit for ideas and assets to promote your newly accredited course.
- Contact partnership@icagile.com if your team would like a Member Portal orientation on how to add classes, process rosters, view feedback, and more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does ICAgile have reference materials?
The Course Evaluation Matrix is your key resource when developing materials. If you're not sure how to cover a specific Learning Outcome, contact learning@icagile.com.
Can ICAgile conduct sessions in languages other than English?
While we can't guarantee the availability of an accreditor who speaks your native language, you may inquire via team@icagile.com. If we are unable to provide an accreditor that speaks your desired language, please bring a translator to the session.
When booking your session you will have an option to add an additional hour for translation purposes.
Please contact team@icagile.com if you have any questions about sessions in a language other than English.
