Credential Engine Technical Site

Credential Engine now supports publishing Job, Occupation, Work Role, and Task information as CTDL Linked Open Data. We are thrilled to invite you to an interactive webinar on October 25th, 2023, at 11 am ET, delving into the practical aspects of how to publish and use this data.

Why CTDL Matters:

The Credential Transparency Description Language (CTDL) provides essential terms that bridge the gap between learning and working. Now, with the newly introduced bulk data upload options in the Credential Registry Publishing System, you can seamlessly link Jobs, Occupations, Work Roles, and Tasks to credentials, learning programs, assessments, competencies, skills, pathways, and more. This transparency via connected, open data empowers individuals to pursue educational opportunities tailored to their career goals, enables education providers to align with employer needs, and assists employers in finding relevant credentials and programs that prepare for the jobs they offer.

Join us by registering below to learn about and get started with publishing using the Credential Registry API and bulk upload options for Jobs, Occupations, Work Roles, and Tasks.

Event Details:

• Date: October 25th, 2023
• Time: 11 am ET (Check your local time zone)
• Format: Online via Zoom Room
• Audience: Professionals and organizations with an interest in publishing Job, Occupation, Work Role, and Task information using CTDL Linked Open Data structure
• Registration: Zoom Webinar Registration
• Credential Engine Event Website Link: Work Classes Implementation Webinar: Connect Learning to Working with CTDL data and the Credential Registry | Credential Engine

We're dedicated to ensuring you leave the webinar equipped with actionable insights and hands-on knowledge to enhance your organization's data transparency. Feel free to invite colleagues who share your interest in leveraging CTDL for better data integration and understanding.

Credential Engine is pleased to announce the release of new terms in the Credential Transparency Description Language (CTDL) to facilitate the publishing of Rubric information. This development is the result of collaboration with experts and partners in the Rubrics Task Group in accordance with our Significant Managed CTDL Specification Updates Process which ensures the enduring value of CTDL Linked Open Data.

Rubrics are vital for understanding competencies in relation to credentials and jobs, outlining observable behaviors indicating a person's competence level. These rubrics support various processes, such as assessing learning outcomes or job task performance. CTDL, which was already capable of describing credentials, competencies, assessments, and tasks, now includes rubrics. This addition enhances transparency regarding required competencies in specific contexts and their assessment methods. Moreover, the CTDL model for rubrics has broad applicability, extending beyond individuals and competences to appraise organizational capabilities and assess product quality or suitability.

At this time, the Credential Registry Publishing System is being updated to support publishing Rubric data to the Credential Registry, and an implementation webinar is scheduled for November 2023.

For more information, refer to the following resources available or anyone to use under an open license:

• CTDL Handbook section on Rubrics
• CTDL Rubric Classes and Properties: Rubric, Rubric Criterion, Rubric Level, CriterionLevel
• CTDL Concept Scheme: EvaluatorCategory
• Significant Managed CTDL Specification Updates Process
• Credential Engine Website Announcement

Feel free to explore these resources to understand this update better. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to reach out via our Contact Us page or email us at info@credentialengine.org. We aim to respond within one to two business days.

Credential Engine follows a clearly defined, open process to make significant updates to develop the Credential Transparency Description Language (CTDL). This process includes subject matter and technical experts forming short-term task groups to provide valuable input, typically through six online meetings over approximately 12 weeks. You are invited to join our new CTDL Certificates Task Group.

The CTDL already supports rich descriptions of numerous types of credentials including some types of certificates. Credential Engine has been asked by a number of United States-based partners to consider expanding the types of certificates that are described and included in the CTDL. Consequently, additional types of industry, vocational, career, technical, secondary, and postsecondary certificates that are embedded in programs or require successful passing of assessments need to be explored to determine if/how they should be defined within the CTDL. The CTDL Certificates Task Group will revisit the definition and framing of the term “certificate” and sub-classes of that term in order to accurately represent ecosystems’ needs. This specific Task Group will focus on U.S. based issuance of certificates but is open to any interested persons globally. See the current list of types of credentials including certificates.

The chartered Certificates Task Group (CTG) will generate use cases and determine a CTDL model and terms proposal for additional types of certificates and terms for describing them and their relationships to competencies, assessments, jobs, other types of credentials and other relevant entities can be integrated into CTDL. This information is also available via the Credential Engine Website.

Join the CTDL Certificates Task Group

Who: Prior knowledge of CTDL is appreciated but not required. Credential Engine encourages subject matter and technical experts from education, training, industry and business to join the CTG regardless of where in the world they work. Examples of the knowledge and experience we seek include:

• subject matter experts with knowledge or experience of developing, implementing, and/or approving industry, vocational, career, technical, secondary or postsecondary certificates and related programs;
• subject matter experts in the use of industry, vocational, career, technical, secondary or postsecondary certificates;
• subject matter experts in designing or implementing education and career pathways that include industry, vocational, career, technical, secondary or postsecondary certificates;
• technical experts with knowledge of existing standards or technical implementations for industry, vocational, career, technical, secondary or postsecondary certificate and related areas such as competencies, learning opportunities, and assessments.

When and Where: The Certificates Task Group is anticipated to begin on Wednesday September 27 , 2023, hold approximately six, one-hour bi-weekly meetings on the following dates at 11:00 am ET. See the World Clock for your time zone. All meetings will be recorded and materials will be shared with all SSTG members.

1. Wed, October 4, 2023
2. Wed, October 18, 2023
3. Wed, November 1, 2023
4. Wed, November 15, 2023
5. Wed, November 29, 2023
6. Wed, December 13, 2023

Resources: Credential Engine will create and provide all resources needed for this work, based on CTG input, and share them for ongoing feedback between meetings. All feedback and materials are transparently available following an open development process.

Outcomes: The final products of this work include the expanded use cases, real-world data examples, and relevant CTDL domain model and terms with definition, and data standards mapping. All outputs from the process are all public information made available under open licenses.

Processes: The process utilized to ensure timely and usable outcomes from Task Groups is well established and successful. The resultant outputs will be reviewed via an open webinar for Credential Engines’ advisory group members and other stakeholders followed by a public comment period. This efficient process ensures orderly changes that support and expand the durable, persistent value of CTDL Linked Open Data. Once this process is completed, the CTDL family of standards and Handbook will be updated along with the Credential Registry publishing and consuming tools. The Registry and related tools and resources are freely available for publishing data to the Credential Registry.

Contact Credential Engine: If you have any questions about this task group, please email info@credentialengine.org. This mailbox is monitored during normal U.S. business hours.

Thank you to all who participated in the Rubrics Task Group and the September 6, 2023 CTDL Rubric Proposal Webinar. The webinar and audio recordings and presentation are available for your review.

Your input is highly valued, and we appreciate your contribution towards evolving the Credential Transparency Description Language (CTDL). Following the webinar is a two-week comment period, and we encourage you to provide feedback on the CTDL Rubric Proposal by Friday, September 22, 2023 using any of the following options:

• Use comments to provide feedback directly in the CTDL Rubric Terms Proposal. To add your feedback, select and right-click on the applicable text, then select “+Comment,” fill it in, and select the blue Comment button to save it.
• Add comments to GitHub Issue #892: Rubric Domain Model and Terms Proposal.
• Email info@credentialengine.org. This account is monitored during normal U.S. business hours.

The CTDL Rubric terms updates are part of an efficient process designed to facilitate organized changes and enhance the enduring value of CTDL Linked Open Data. Credential Engine's plan includes updating the CTDL family of specifications and implementing these terms within the Credential Registry Publishing System in 2023. We will provide further details on these updates, as well as information on how to participate in an implementation webinar, in an upcoming announcement.

We want to express our appreciation for your interest and active involvement in the CTDL development process. If you have any questions or require additional information, please do not hesitate to contact us at info@credentialengine.org.

Credential Engine is extending an invitation to you to join the CTDL Rubric Terms Proposal Webinar.

In collaboration with the CTDL team, the CTDL Rubrics Task Group (RTG) has crafted a proposal introducing CTDL rubric terms. Rubrics hold the key to unlocking a deeper comprehension of competencies within the context of credentials and job roles. By defining observable behaviors that indicate varying levels of proficiency, rubrics empower us to assess learning outcomes, gauge task performance, and more.

Already proficient in describing credentials, competencies, assessments, and tasks, CTDL is poised to take its capabilities to the next level by incorporating CTDL rubric terms. With the Task Group's work now complete, we are excited to present the CTDL Rubrics Term Proposal to stakeholders like you and eagerly await your invaluable feedback. At the heart of CTDL's evolution lies community engagement and feedback. This is your chance to delve into the RTG's efforts, review the proposal, and contribute your insights.

We are offering two time slots on Wednesday, September 6, 2023. Please register for the time that is most convenient for you:

• Option 1: Wednesday, September 6, 2023 @ 11:00 am ET. Registration linked here. See the World Clock for your time zone.
• Option 2: Wednesday, September 6, 2023 @ 2:00 pm ET. Registration linked here. See the World Clock for your time zone.

Please note that the webinars will be recorded and the recordings made publicly available along with all meeting materials.

Thank you for your interest and participation in the CTDL development process. We look forward to your involvement.

This information is also available via the Credential Engine website.

Resources:

• Rubrics Task Group Charter
• Draft CTDL Rubric Terms Proposal
• CTDL Rubric Domain Model Diagram (click on the image to expand)
• CTDL Rubric Simplified Excerpt Diagram (click on the image to expand)
• CTDL Rubrics Proposal in the Credential Engine GitHub Repository
• Additional resources will be provided during the webinar.