Category: education

education

What are Micro-Credentials? Unveiling the Significance in EducationWhat are Micro-Credentials? Unveiling the Significance in Education

April 20, 2024April 20, 2024 adminadmin 0 Comments

Exploring the Concept of Micro-Credentials

Micro-credentials, called ‘micro certificates’, encompass concise and targeted week-long courses. Employees primarily utilize them to acquire precise skill sets. These courses result in stacked credentials, forming a portfolio of digital badges or certificates.

Distinguished by their specificity, micro-credential courses bridge skill gaps often unincluded by traditional degrees due to the novelty of required expertise. Unlike conventional degrees or formal certificates, micro-credentials are compact, time-efficient, and hyper-focused, offering a more cost-effective and specialized learning experience.

These courses are in various educational institutes, including universities, industry organizations, and accredited online platforms.

Benefits of Micro-Credentials for Educators

Micro-credentials enhance teaching strategies and methods. It is efficient with its specificity, making its courses engaging and doable for learners. Here are the other benefits educators can receive by creating micro-credential courses.

Meeting the Demand for Skills-Based Hiring

According to a report from Coursera, 90% of graduates and students believe industry micro-credentials will make them more likely to be hired. Even 88% of employers believe that professional certificates strengthen a candidate’s application, as 77% already use skills-based hiring.

With the staggering statistics for micro-credentials, educators would be wise to meet its demand. 

Enhancing Teaching Strategies Through Micro-Credentialing

Micro-credential courses typically comprise 4-8 lessons. They are designed to accommodate learners who are most likely employed. Because of the “chunking” of the lessons, learners can dedicate a few weekly hours to acquiring new expertise. Tailored for rapid up-skilling, these courses prioritize evidence-based resources to ensure the delivery of high-quality knowledge. Each lesson is followed by short quizzes, facilitating continual learning tracking and retention of acquired insights.

Micro-Credentials: A Tool for Continuing Education to Adopt

Micro-credentials can assist educators in creating better-continuing education (CE) courses. Due to innovations constantly changing the industries, Sheila LeBlanc, associate vice-president for CE at the University of Calgary, states in an interview:

“Micro-credentials and continuous learning are critical for almost every worker’s future. It doesn’t matter if you are a nurse, an engineer, a scientist, or an artist. When I finished my undergraduate degree in marketing, social media, and digital marketing didn’t exist. Today’s need to continuously learn new skills and competencies, too, or they won’t be employed for long!”

She agrees that learners and employers must become partners in creating accessible, research-based, and work-related learning opportunities, a mentality required for micro-credentialing.

“Continuing Education teams have the tools, technology, and processes in place to act as a launching point for micro-credential practices across the academy.”

Utilizing SimpleCert®: Streamlining Micro-Credential Management

Micro-credential courses allow educators to create efficient, evidence-based, and engaging lessons for many learners who wish to be employed immediately. These learners would often look for accredited courses online that they can access at home or on their smartphones to complete at their convenience. 

You may benefit from automated micro-credential management if you’re an online educator. SimpleCert® is a systemic tool for digital certificate management. By linking your SimpleCert® account to your website or test-taker platform, your students can automatically receive their digital certificates as soon as they are done.

Because SimpleCert® is a comprehensive Certificate Management System, it can manage all aspects of your certification program. All certificates you award are automatically stored within your account, allowing for effortless management and retrieval. Your students can access their stacked credentials anytime via a direct download link, or for monthly SimpleCart® subscribers via individual recipient portals.

See our digital credentials features to learn more

SimpleCert | Unveiling the Significance in Education

Read FullRead Full

Building A Guest House On Your PropertyBuilding A Guest House On Your Property

April 6, 2024April 6, 2024 adminadmin 0 Comments

Mention “guest house” and you might immediately envision swanky mansions of elite socialites. But guest houses are no longer just for the rich and famous. Many homeowners are building guest homes on their property as a creative solution to a variety of alternative living arrangements. 

What Is A Guest House?

While they go by a lot of names – cottages, tiny homes, granny flats – guest houses generally fall into two categories: guest houses or Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). Guest homes are made for short-term occupancy, or for family members that have access to the main house – giving a perfect balance of togetherness and privacy. 

Because people living in them have room to roam, guest homes are typically smaller and offer endless flexibility. They can provide a retreat space for teens and parents or an office space for those who need to work from home, and the kitchen table isn’t cutting it. It is also a great way to accommodate aging parents or adult children who are not quite ready to buy their own homes.

Where To Build A Guest House

The first thing to consider is —  what is the purpose of your guest house? Do you have frequent out-of-town guests, such as parents or children? Do you need a mother-in-law suite for an aging family member who needs an extra level of care? Are you looking for a flexible office space that can be turned into a teen hangout for movie night? 

Once you know what you want to do with your guest house, the next step is picking the location on your site, which will depend on a variety of factors. First, there are zoning laws to consider, and you should explore if there are any HOA restrictions. If you live on rural acreage, you will need to determine the optimal place for running electricity, water, and sewer to the site. 

How To Build A Guest House

Building a guest house is not as easy as buying a tiny home on Amazon and throwing it in the backyard (wouldn’t that be nice!). Careful consideration and planning are needed to determine financing, building permits, design, and the builder. 

If you plan a guest house for an aging parent, design the space to meet their needs, such as mobility and safety concerns. You should also decide if you want the home to be attached or detached. An attached unit is more convenient to provide family access, while a detached unit will offer more privacy and flexibility for each lifestyle. 

Financing a Guest House

Securing a construction loan can be one of the most stressful parts of building a new home. Taking it one step at a time is important. Start with getting pre-qualified to determine your budget. When you know what you can realistically afford, your home-building journey takes shape. HiLine Homes has a list of Approved Lenders who may be able to offer you up to 100% financing. 

Know Zoning Laws and Restrictions

Each building jurisdiction has its own requirements, so it is essential to check if your project is allowable and feasible. It is important to check with your local city or county building department to find out your zoning and associated codes. The information about your property you will need to learn about feasibility is: 

  • Parcel Number
  • Zoning
  • Lot size
  • Location of Utilities
  • and Environmental Constraints

When starting the process, it may feel overwhelming. That is why it is key to lean on your Home Consultant to walk you through the project. 

Find a Floor Plan

Guesthouses can offer comfortable and flexible multi-generational living while saving money from hotel costs, renting, or assisted living facilities, so choosing the right floor plan is essential. When looking at floor plans, consider how the space flows for everyday use. Even if you plan to let friends and family use it for extended visits, you will want to offer them a cozy space for privacy. 

HiLine Homes’ Affordable Guest Home Options 

HiLine Homes is dedicated to helping families build a high-quality home with the opportunity of a strong equity position. You are sure to enjoy checking out our beautiful home plans designed to be affordable and provide efficient use of space. Our smallest home plan starts at only 500 square feet, providing a quaint space with all the essentials. With over 40 home plans available and several perfectly suited as a guest home, you are sure to find the right fit.

If you are looking for an attached option, Home Plan 500 and 500B are designed to be attached to another HiLine Homes floor plan when purchased together. It is a versatile option for families and guests looking for a place to retreat. 

Want a bit more space? Home Plan 800 adds a small laundry room, outdoor living space, and 8×8 storage area for even more flexibility and independence. Our Home Consultants will provide a free building consultation to review your site and answer your questions about the process. 

Cost Of A Guest House

As a rising trend, guest homes help families find alternative housing options, and HiLine Homes works to make that process affordable and attainable. Our traditional building program is designed with homeowner responsibilities such as preparing the property for HiLine Homes to build a complete home on your prepared property. Resulting in keeping the costs of building down and the possibility of building instant “sweat” equity. The best way to determine the cost of building your new home is to schedule a free home-building consultation. 

The HiLine Homes Experience

HiLine Homes has been building quality homes for over 25 years, developing a smooth construction process. We believe that knowledge is power and that an informed buyer makes confident decisions. We promise to give you clear communication and follow up on what we say we will do. 

For more information click the link below.

HiLine Homes | Building A Guest House

 

Read FullRead Full

Deciphering the 2023 UK Rental Tax Amendments: Essential Insights for LandlordsDeciphering the 2023 UK Rental Tax Amendments: Essential Insights for Landlords

August 21, 2023August 21, 2023 adminadmin 0 Comments

The landscape of the UK rental market is perpetually evolving,and with each new year comes a fresh set of challenges and opportunities for landlords. Arguably,among the most critical components of a landlord’s responsibilities is staying abreast of tax changes. As we step into 2023,several pivotal tax changes have emerged that every UK landlord should be aware of. This guide provides a concise breakdown of these modifications,for further related landlord services visit Landlord Knowledge.

1. Personal Allowance Increase

For the tax year 2023/24,there’s been an increase in the personal allowance rate from the UK government. Landlords,like all other taxpayers in the UK,will benefit from this as it means you can earn a little more before being liable to pay tax. Given that rental income is part of a landlord’s taxable income,this increment will potentially result in slightly reduced tax bills for some. It’s always good practice to review your income against the new thresholds to understand your tax obligations better.

2. Changes to Mortgage Interest Relief

The phased reduction of mortgage interest relief,which started a few years ago,has now settled into its final structure. From this tax year onwards,landlords can only claim a basic rate reduction for their finance costs,not the actual costs themselves. If you’ve taken out a mortgage to purchase a rental property,it’s imperative to revisit your financial planning. The full impact of this shift means landlords,especially those in higher tax bands,will be paying more.

3. Capital Gains Tax (CGT) Updates

There’s been an incremental rise in the Capital Gains Tax rates. While the residential property rate remains higher than other assets,the increase is noteworthy for landlords contemplating selling their rental properties. Remember,selling a rental property does not just count the profit you make at the point of sale. It also involves deducting costs like stamp duty and solicitor fees. Ensure you’re calculating your CGT correctly to avoid any unexpected tax bills.

4. Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) Adjustments

While the 3% higher rate for additional dwellings remains unchanged,there have been slight adjustments in the property value bands that determine how much SDLT is owed. For landlords looking to expand their portfolios,understanding the intricacies of these bands is essential. It could influence your buying decisions,especially if you’re teetering on the edge of a threshold.

5. Energy Efficiency Upgrades and Deductions

A positive change for environmentally-conscious landlords is the increased allowance for deductions linked to energy efficiency improvements. If you’re making your rental properties more eco-friendly,there are tax breaks available. Investing in green enhancements not only attracts a more eco-aware tenant base but also grants you tax benefits.

In Conclusion

Taxation is an intricate web,and while it can sometimes seem daunting,it’s essential for landlords to understand the nuances of these changes and how they impact their bottom line. With the 2023 tax changes highlighted above,it’s advisable to seek expert advice if uncertain. A proactive approach,supplemented with professional advice,will ensure that you’re not only compliant but also leveraging any new tax advantages that arise. Remember,staying informed is half the battle won. The other half is strategic planning based on that knowledge.

For further information visit Landlord Knowledge.

Read FullRead Full