Micro-credentials for Classroom Confidence
Upskill with purpose. Teach with impact.
The Australian Government has funded three FREE micro-credentials to upskill some of the most important members of our society: our teachers.
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Evidence-based. Expert-informed. Cost-free.
We’ve created three specialised micro-credentials carefully tailored to meet the needs of school educators based on the latest research. With these self-paced, practical courses, you can upskill quickly, meet your professional development requirements and transform your teaching—all on a flexible, digital platform.
Classroom Management
Create a quality learning environment.
Duration: Self-paced
Estimated time commitment: 48 hours of learning
Explicit Teaching
Maximise every lesson’s impact
Duration: Self-paced
Estimated time commitment: 48 hours of learning
Teaching Phonics
Embed systematic synthetic phonics instruction
Duration: Self-paced
Estimated time commitment: 48 hours of learning
Enrol now!
Enrolments for all three micro-credentials are now open. Register your interest to receive the enrolment links for each course.
Meeting your needs
- Free: These micro-credentials are fully funded by the Australian Government, making them available at no cost to Australian-based school educators and pre-service teachers!
- Professional development: Completing just one of these three micro-credentials can count towards the annual 20-hour professional learning requirement for maintaining your teacher registration.
- Increased confidence: Through these micro-credentials, you’ll gain the tools and knowledge to confidently navigate a wide range of classroom challenges, helping you feel more prepared and in control across diverse scenarios.
- Evidence-based learning: Our micro-credentials draw exclusively from current, evidence-backed teaching methodologies, ensuring relevance and effectiveness in classrooms.
- Networking and peer support: Our collaborative approach will connect you with peers, offering a supportive community of educators for shared learning.
- Inclusivity and diversity: Each of these micro-credentials will empower you to build inclusive learning environments, helping you cater to the needs of all students.
- Advanced academic pathways: Course completion offers a potential credit pathway toward post-graduate study at the University of Adelaide, opening doors to further career growth.
In 2022, the Quality Initial Teacher Education Review suggested that short courses could help teachers to upskill, particularly in areas where they feel underprepared, such as managing classrooms, using explicit teaching strategies and teaching phonics.
In response, the Australian Government has selected the University of Adelaide to develop evidence-based micro-credentials so that teachers in all stages of their careers can upskill in these areas of need and improve their teaching practice with minimum disruption to their work capacity.
Tried and tested
We know which approaches make a real difference to young people's learning outcomes—and we’re committed to empowering every teacher with those tools. The approaches you’ll unpack in our micro-credentials are evidence-based and relevant to today’s dynamic classrooms. Our academics have synthesised the most rigorous and effective strategies to help take your teaching practice to the next level and set your students up for success.
Developed by experts
Founded on expertise in higher education and professional development, these courses meet the needs of both active and pre-service teachers.
For over 20 years, the University’s Professional and Continuing Education (PACE) unit has been combining academic, industry and technical expertise to deliver focused and high-quality workforce training, development and credentials. Each year PACE supports the lifelong learning of more than 2,300 participants and hundreds of local and international organisations across diverse sectors to enhance their capabilities and thrive in the changing professional world.
As an exemplar of innovation, the School of Education at the University of Adelaide is recognised as an Apple Distinguished School in Higher Education: the only one in Australia. It has extensive expertise in designing, delivering and monitoring scalable pedagogy and curricula for online learning across various digital platforms.
FAQs
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Who are these courses for?
The micro-credentials are designed for Australian-based school teachers (early years, primary and secondary), school leaders, other education professionals within the school setting and pre-service teachers.
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Are there any prerequisites?
The micro-credentials have no prerequisites for enrolling, and assumed knowledge will be communicated where relevant.
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What is the course structure and estimated learning effort?
The micro-credentials are flexible and self-paced in design, so you can tailor your learning journey to fit into your lifestyle. They cover 48 hours of learning, split into four distinct modules. Each module is divided into small, logically connected topics of approximately 1.5 hours of learning each. This allows you to learn in the way that works best for you.
The topics feature a mix of practitioner videos and activities, readings, practice strategies, resources and tools. These are complemented by opportunities for self-reflection and online community discussions.
There is no set timeframe in which you need to complete each micro-credential — you can study at your own pace. If you have more free time, you could speed up your work to finish sooner. If you're new to online learning or haven't studied in a while, scheduling your study times in shorter bursts may be helpful.
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Will this count toward my professional development requirements?
The courses are designed to be recognised by Teacher Registration Boards. All three micro-credentials are aligned to the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers to meet the professional development requirements for non-accredited programs all the way to the highly accomplished level. If you wish to count a course towards your mandatory professional development hours, we recommend that you confirm the requirements with your teaching authority.
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Can I do the courses remotely?
Our micro-credentials are delivered online only, making them accessible for Australian-based school educators and pre-service teachers nationwide, including in remote areas.
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What will I receive when I complete a micro-credential?
When you successfully complete:
- a module within one of the micro-credentials
- a micro-credential in full; and/or
- the capstone assessment
You will be awarded a digital badge from the University of Adelaide. A digital badge is a graphic that can be shared on your LinkedIn, website or email signature that is designed to help you validate and communicate your achievement. It links to metadata that provides more information about the specific micro-credential you have completed. Many employers and educational institutions recognise and value digital badges as evidence of specific skills, achievements, or competencies – while offering you, as the learner, an opportunity to enhance your credibility and recognition within your field.
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Will these courses give me study credits?
Course completion offers a potential credit pathway toward post-graduate study at the University of Adelaide. Participants need to successfully complete at least three modules across at least two micro-credentials (three modules in total) to be eligible to undertake the assessment credential. If you seek a credit transfer, we recommend you liaise with your chosen institution, as each one will have their own policy for how they assess and award credit.
Once you have completed at least three modules across at least two micro-credentials, we will email you the enrolment link for the assessment credential within four weeks from your completion of the third module.
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How do I obtain credit towards a Master of Education course at the University of Adelaide after completing the Classroom Confidence Assessment Credential?
If you are a current University of Adelaide student, please submit the online ‘Application for Academic Credit’ form to the Faculty of Arts, Business, Law and Economics. You will need to present three badges of three completed modules across at least two micro-credentials; the ‘Classroom Confidence Assessment Credential’ badge; and course outlines.
If you are not a University of Adelaide student and hold a Bachelor of Teaching qualification or equivalent, please contact Dr Tom Porta, Program Director, Master of Education, at tom.porta@adelaide.edu.au.
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When will the University of Adelaide become Adelaide University?
In January 2026, the University of Adelaide and the University of South Australia will unite to form Adelaide University - Australia’s new university for the future and ranked among the top 100 universities globally.
As part of this transition, Professional and Continuing Education (University of Adelaide) and Strategic Partnerships (University of South Australia) will come together to create Learning Futures.
Learning Futures, in partnership with the School of Education, will administer the Micro-credentials for Classroom Confidence.
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What will change for the Micro-credentials for Classroom Confidence when Adelaide University is formed?
The way students register, enrol, and access content will remain the same, with all courses continuing to be offered at no cost to eligible Australian educators.
However, you will notice:
- Updated naming and branding across materials and in the Canvas learning environment.
- Enrolment and completion deadlines that determine whether badges are issued by the University of Adelaide or Adelaide University.
- Updates to student enquiry mailboxes. The current mailbox (pace@adelaide.edu.au) will remain active into 2026. A new mailbox — learningfutures@adelaide.edu.au — will be introduced from January 2026 to reflect the new organisational structure.
Course delivery, content, and credit pathways will remain the same at Adelaide University.
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Which university will issue the digital badges?
This will depend on the timing of your completion. If you have a preference for which university issues your digital badges, please refer to the key dates below:
Issuing university Enrolment deadline Completion deadline University of Adelaide Current - 31 December 2025 (inclusive) 31 March 2026 (inclusive) Adelaide University From 1 January 2026 No restriction -
Will badges issued by the University of Adelaide remain valid once Adelaide University opens?
Yes. Badges issued by the University of Adelaide do not expire and will continue to be recognised as valid achievements of the foundational institution.
These badges may also be used as evidence for:
- Enrolment in the Classroom Confidence Assessment Credential; and
- Credit pathways toward a Master of Education at Adelaide University.
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Can I use my Classroom Confidence Assessment Credential for credit towards a Master of Education at Adelaide University?
Yes. Classroom Confidence Assessment Credentials earned from either the foundational University of Adelaide or Adelaide University can be used toward credit for a Master of Education at Adelaide University, subject to completion of a teaching degree.
If you are seeking credit at another institution, you will need to confirm whether this credential meets their requirements.
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I’m already enrolled in a micro-credential. Do I need to enrol in any additional Classroom Confidence micro-credentials in 2025 to receive a University of Adelaide badge?
Yes. Each micro-credential is a separate enrolment, and it is your course enrolment date and not your student registration date that determines which institution issues your badge. The value and recognition of the badges remain the same regardless of issuing institution, but if you have a preference for a University of Adelaide badge, please enrol by 31 December 2025 and complete the micro-credential by 31 March 2026.
The Classroom Confidence Assessment Credential digital badge will be issued by the University of Adelaide for students who meet the enrolment and completion dates listed below.
- Complete three modules across two micro-credentials by 18 December 2025
- Enrol in the Assessment Credential by 31 December 2025
- Complete the Assessment Credential by 31 March 2026
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I’m interested in completing the Classroom Confidence Assessment Credential. Do I need to enrol in 2025 to receive a University of Adelaide badge for this credential?
Yes. Each micro-credential is a separate enrolment, and it is your course enrolment date and not your student registration date, that determines which institution issues your badge.
The Classroom Confidence Assessment Credential digital badge will be issued by the University of Adelaide for students who meet the enrolment and completion dates listed below.
- Complete three modules across two micro-credentials by 18 December 2025
- Enrol in the Assessment Credential by 31 December 2025
- Complete the Assessment Credential by 31 March 2026
Is this course right for you? Feel free to get in touch.
For more details about the micro-credentials, download a brochure.
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Acknowledgements
We would like to acknowledge the invaluable contributions of our diverse stakeholders to the development of the Micro-credentials for Classroom Confidence, including:
