Alkek One Micro-Credentials equip students with in-demand technology skills

Having a résumé that stands out when seeking that first professional job is important, but it is not easy to achieve in today’s competitive job market. In addition to academic accomplishments, employers are often seeking people skilled in the latest digital technologies. 

To help Texas State University students gain and demonstrate these in-demand technology skills, University Libraries has teamed up with NASA and the LBJ Institute for STEM Education and Research to launch the Alkek One Micro-Credentialing Program. The program, which is being offered at no charge, is also available to faculty and staff who wish to update their skills and credentials.

“We’re very excited to have this program up and running as an educational complement to the suite of new and emerging technology spaces we built on the first floor of the library,” said Andrew Rechnitz, director of technology engagement for University Libraries. “Alkek One spaces have been in operation for two years now, and the project-based workshops we offer truly make these spaces accessible to all students, regardless of their discipline, while also leading to valuable credentials that will ultimately make students more employable.”

Micro-credentials or digital badges can be added to résumés, portfolios, and LinkedIn profiles. This semester, Alkek One Micro-credentials are being offered to those who complete requirements in any of five STEM areas:

Blender 3D Bootcamp — Learn introductory-level 3D modeling, unwrapping, rigging, and animation using Blender. NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio works closely with scientists to create visualizations, animations, and images that promote a greater understanding of Earth and Space Science research activities: https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov.

Design to Fabrication — Learn basic design principles and use them to fabricate a 3-dimensional object. This process will step through the complete prototyping process from sketches, maquettes, translation into design software, and fabrication of a finished object in the Alkek One MakerSpace. Students will have the opportunity to fabricate their product using a laser cutter, waterjet, or 3D printer.

Discovering GIS —  Learn the basics of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) using ArcGIS Pro software, the world’s most popular software for exploring, analyzing, editing, and sharing (via the internet) maps and GIS data. You will be introduced to GIS and map design, table joins and data query, geocoding, spatial statistics, and story mapping.

Introduction to Video and Audio Editing — Learn to edit video and audio, including making cuts, generating graphics, replacing a green screen, and enhancing audio quality in Adobe Premiere Rush, and Adobe Premiere Pro.

Unity XR Development — Get an overview of the Unity Realtime Development Platform. Students will learn how to use the platform to create desktop and mobile applications for virtual reality, augmented reality, and console applications. Students will be introduced to the Unity Platform IDE, C# scripting, models, textures & multimedia, virtual reality basics, and interactive multimedia. Students can earn three NASA-sponsored digital badges by completing specified requirements. (Note: the fall-semester class is full.)

To earn a micro-credential, students must participate in multi-day workshops and complete the requirements for creating a final product using the specified technology.

Junior computer science major Julio Rivera-Cantu participated in a pilot of the Unity XR Development course last spring and found the skills he gained through the course to be beneficial to his career goals.

“The course has helped me get a deeper understanding on how to use Unity to better make real life applications, which in return will help me in the future when I start search for jobs where I get to create projects that will be used by the public,” Rivera-Cantu said.

In the future, the library is planning to expand its list of offerings to include micro-credentials in a variety of topical areas that will help students gain skills that supplement their academic preparation and attract the attention of potential employers.