We are in the process of developing additional product certifications. If you’re interested in contributing to the design of those certifications, please contact us at productcertifications@digitalpromise.org.
When will I hear back with results? How long does the review process take?
The assessment process is rigorous and can take several weeks to complete. The application is assessed by two reviewers with expertise in edtech, product design, and research, who have been trained in using the certification’s rubric. You can expect to receive the results of their review within 28 days of submitting your application.
How can I share that my product has earned the certification?
Awarded applicants receive an Open Badge to display their certification status in any way they deem valuable, such as on product websites and product index sites. The Open Badge will display:
Competency Statement, Key Method, and Method Components
To whom the Open Badge was awarded
The issuing organization
The issue date
The expiration date (2 years after earning the certification)
Check out this blog to learn more about Open Badges.
What types of products qualify for this certification?
Any software or hardware product that delivers, informs, creates, and/or offers instruction or learning opportunities to educators and/or students is welcome to apply.
What if my product does not earn the certification?
If an applicant does not earn the certification, this information will be kept confidential between Digital Promise and the product. Additionally, the list of applicants is confidential and only known to Digital Promise. The product will receive a one-page description of the assessment with specific action items to take to earn the certification. We are committed to a continuous learning process and encourage products to resubmit their applications after incorporating the assessors’ feedback.
Who will access the application responses?
In the application, the product team can opt-out from sharing any of their responses in the Open Badge certification. While completing the application, you will be prompted to note which responses can be shared publicly through the Open Badge, but these responses will only be shared publicly if the applicant has earned the certification. When the application is submitted, responses will be reviewed by Digital Promise staff only.
The application responses and artifacts uploaded to the Digital Promise Micro-credential platform are stored in the Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud platform, specifically in an encrypted S3 storage bucket (an AWS public cloud storage).
Do we need to sign the Research-Based Product Promise when we apply for the certification?
Signing the Promise is not required to submit an application nor is signatory status considered during application review, though you are encouraged to pledge your commitment if you agree that learning sciences research is important to the product design process.
Questions about the Applications
When does the application close?
The applications are currently open and there is no deadline to submit. However, many district leaders have shared with Digital Promise that they plan to review which products have earned the certification in early fall to inform budgetary decisions for the following school year. To ensure your certification status is available by September, your application must be submitted by early June.
Who from my team should contribute to the application?
As the application questions consider product design processes and history, it is recommended that one or more senior leaders complete the application.
What is an approximate time commitment to complete this application?
The application should take the product team leadership between 2-4 hours to complete.
Is there a fee associated with applying to the certification?
Digital Promise is committed to providing a rigorous and efficient review of product certification applications. To cover the cost of assessor time, each product certification requires a modest submission fee which can be found on the product certification platform. For more information about submission and resubmission fees, please contact productcertifications@digitalpromise.org.
What qualifies as a public-facing artifact?
Products that meet this criteria typically have a specific webpage dedicated to sharing information about their product’s design and any corresponding references. These resources need to be easily accessible and searchable on the product’s website, and not hidden behind a login or paywalls.
Do efficacy and/or impact studies count toward the Research-Based Design product certification?
The Research-Based Design certification only considers how the research about how people learn was used to design the product. The application calls for citations of rigorous research about learning and education as well as a clear explanation of how these studies informed design decisions. As such, efficacy or impact studies about the product itself will not be considered in the application review for this particular certification.
Product Certifications