Neurodiversity and Social Engagement Badges & Micro-Credential

Are you an educator eager to make a meaningful impact on your students' lives? Dive into the world of Neurodiversity and Social Engagement with our non-credit Micro-Credential program. Designed for both current students and certified teachers, this three-course micro-credential will equip you with the knowledge and skills needed to support neurodiverse students effectively.

You can earn a badge for each course, and if you take all three courses and earn three badges, you can receive the micro-credential.

What Are Badges and Micro-Credentials?

A digital badge is a graphic verification of the skills you have mastered after successfully completing some form of professional learning or an experience in which you have participated. A digital badge is an icon, but it is not a static image. It is clickable and houses information such as the issuing institution, the date earned, the criteria required to earn the badge and the evidence that shows that you have met the required criteria. Digital badges are a great way to share your professional learning achievements and new competencies with employers, colleagues, friends, and family via social platforms such as LinkedIn, X, Facebook, or through an open backpack.

A micro-credential is a sequence of digital badges that can be earn over time and stacked together to create a focused program of study or a pathway.

What You'll Learn in the Neurodiversity and Social Engagement Micro-Credential

A micro-credential is a sequence of digital badges that can be earn over time and stacked together to create a focused program of study or a pathway.

You will learn to:

Recognize, identify, and understand the neuroscience and interpersonal biology in teaching and learning.
Differentiate and explain human brain development, social and emotional learning, and trauma-informed practices to support all students thriving and flourishing academically.
Learn and integrate appropriate somatic practices in the learning and teaching exchange that supports academic progression and social and emotional balance.

Neurodiversity and Social Engagement Courses

Upon completion of each course, you will be awarded a badge associated with that course, and the skills learned.

Psychological Safety in Teaching and Learning

Psychological Safety in Teaching and Learning is a 15-hour, non-credit course that focuses on getting to know our nervous system. Our brain’s central focus is to keep us safe. Through a process called neuroception, we are constantly scanning our surroundings to determine if we are safe. Understanding Polyvagal Theory enables us to identify our levels of safety and patterns of behavioral expression. Mindfulness, breathwork, and other contemplative practices facilitate shifts in patterns of expression to better support our authentic being and belonging. This course is offered each Fall semester.

Trauma-informed Approaches

Trauma-informed Approaches is a 15-hour, non-credit course that explores the impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on student learning. An understanding of how discrimination and marginalization base on race, ethnicity, gender, language, varying abilities, orientation, religion, social-economic status, and other factors can be experienced as trauma and contribute to mental health issues. This course is offered each Spring semester.

Neurodiversity in the Classroom

Neurodiversity in the Classroom is a 15-hour, non-credit course that explores evidence-based practices that centers neurological diversity in the classroom to support all students thriving and flourishing. Participants will learn evidence-based instructional approaches for centering neurological diversity in the classroom to support the thriving of students with learning disability labels, as well as those with neurotypical development. This course is offered each Summer semester.

After completing all three-courses and receiving all three badges you will automatically be awarded a non-credit Micro-Credential in Neurodiversity and Social Engagement.

Tools That Help You Work with Children and Youth Better

Content and technical skills are two components necessary for a successful career in working with children and youth across fields, education, health, not-for-profit, etc. Communication and interaction with others, whether it is adult to young person, adult to adult, or young person to young person. Professionally we called these executive functioning or people skills.

Understanding the intersection of culture, past experiences, and the neurobiology of the brain supports greater understanding of self and interaction with others. Understanding psychological safety, trauma-informed approaches, and neurodiversity in the classroom can assist in designing environments that support greater communication and interaction. Additionally, you’ll learn somatic practices that can assist in resetting the nervous system when challenges arise.

Admissions

There are no prerequisites for the courses.

Who Should Take These Courses?

These courses are tailored for children and youth providers working in education, health, not-for-profit, or government organizations. They are also beneficial to those working with the families of children and youth, and with work in communities. Whether your role or responsibility is that of direct service, supervision of those in direct service, out-reach to families and caregivers, or community advocate, the courses sharpen your awareness of engagement and interaction.

Get Started on Your Neurodiversity and Social Engagement Micro-Credential

Questions about course schedules or the program? Email Velma.Cobb@touro.edu

Ready to start? Navigate to the Neurodiversity and Social Engagement Micro-Credential page catalog to enroll in the current offerings

Start the Neurodiversity and Social Engagement Micro-Credential

Contact

For more information, contact:

Velma Cobb
Velma.Cobb@touro.edu