Educational Framework for the Development of Online Micro-Credential for General Population: A Scoping Review Protocol

Similar to conventional learning, an effective pedagogical approach is crucial to ensure that online micro-credentials achieve their intended outcomes and learners can effectively transfer their newly acquired knowledge and skills to real-world applications. However, a lack of universally accepted frameworks for developing online micro-credential instruction leads to variability in the approaches used. This scoping review aims to address this gap by mapping the key aspects and elements of educational frameworks employed in creating online micro-credentials for the general population. The review will be conducted in accordance with the methodology for scoping reviews established by the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI). The search strategy will include published studies from Scopus, EBSCOhost, and ERIC databases. Additional relevant literature will be retrieved from the advanced Google search engine, as well as government and university guidelines. Eligible studies will be limited to those published from 2013 onwards and in the English language. Two independent reviewers will perform the screening, selection, and data extraction processes. The findings will be presented in a combination of tabular format and narrative summary. They will be structured based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for scoping reviews (PRISMAScR) checklist.