Credential Engine Technical Site

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.

Thank you to those who were able to participate in the "Traversing Data Landscapes: CTDL Schema Crosswalks Planning Session Webinar." It was wonderful to see such a diverse and engaged group of participants.

We explored the importance of schema mappings, introduced the freely available Data Ecosystem Schema Mapper tool, and discussed effective approaches to scoping and planning mapping projects. The session also featured a real-world mapping example used by the CTDL Rubrics Task Group, underscoring the value of transparent data through well-defined crosswalks. We concluded with an invitation to participate in the development of use cases and solutions that empower people using transparent data that is clarified through well defined crosswalks. For more information, see the links to the recordings and webinar materials below.

We have a promising opportunity on the horizon—the proposal for global micro-credential schema mappings. Your expertise could play a pivotal role in shaping this initiative, which is open to all and will result in an open, public crosswalk. The CTDL Advisory Group is where your insights can shape the direction of these efforts, driving tangible outcomes. If you’re not already a member, we invite you to take your involvement a step further by joining this group; like all Credential Engine Advisory Groups, there is no cost for participation, and we welcome everyone’s perspectives. Furthermore, if you or someone you know possesses the skills of a potential schema mapper or can facilitate connections within your network, we encourage you to share this information. Use this form to indicate how you’d like to participate.

For any questions please don’t hesitate to contact Jeanne Kitchens jkitchens@credentialengine.org.

Webinar Deck and Recordings:

• 23-August-2023:CTDL Rubrics Task Meeting
• Chat: CTDL Schema Crosswalks Planning Session 22-August-2023
• Webinar Recording on YouTube
• Audio Recording in Meeting Folder
• Transcript (VTT File)

Meeting References and Materials:

• CTDL Rubrics Task Group DESM Mapping – You may need to select "Rubric Mapping for CTDL" from the dropdown menu.
• DRAFT Credential Transparency Opportunities Discussion Updated August 8, 2023
• Draft Micro-Credential Mapping Project Aug 22, 2023
• Credential Engine Webpage: Traversing Data Landscapes: CTDL Schema Crosswalks
• T3 DESM Wikispace: https://wiki.t3networkhub.org/wiki/OCN:_DESM_Tool
• Join the CTDL Advisory Group

Other CTDL Resources:

• Credential Engine Technical Site – This site includes the CTDL family of schemas available for anyone to use under an open Creative Commons license.
• CTDL Handbook
• Significant Update Policy
• Namespace Policy
• GitHub Repository: Credential Engine Schema

Attention CTDL Advisory Group Members and Interested Participants,

We invite you to our upcoming CTDL Schema Crosswalks Planning Session, where we will delve into learning about the process of mapping schemas using the Data Ecosystem Schema Mapper Tool (DESM), focusing on data models in areas relevant to the Credential Transparency Description Language (CTDL). We’ll also seek input on next steps for pursuing mapping projects that are aligned to opportunities identified by the CTDL Advisory Group. This collaborative event will take place on August 22nd and will be hosted via Zoom.

Event Details:

• Date: August 22nd
• Time: 10 am ET (See the World Clock for your time zone)
• Duration: 1 hour
• Registration Link: Zoom Registration

Who Should Participate? This session is a unique opportunity for two key groups:

• Schema Managers: If you are responsible for managing schemas or data models that intersect with the Credential Transparency Description Language (CTDL), your insights are invaluable. Join to contribute your expertise in fostering interoperability and effective data utilization.
• Learning Ecosystem Professionals: For those seeking crosswalks to bridge the gap between different data models within the learning and work ecosystem, this session offers an exceptional chance to gain insights and collaborate with experts in the field.

Why Participate? Engaging in schema crosswalks and mapping offers a multitude of benefits to the CTDL ecosystem.

• Avoid Unnecessary Proliferation: Gain a comprehensive understanding of existing public data models, reducing redundancy and enabling informed decisions on potential content standard reuse.
• Enhance Clarity: Create transparent and clear mappings among relevant data models, fostering improved comprehension and communication.
• Evaluate Expressivity: Assess the level of expressivity of different data models, identifying commonalities and differences in attributes.
• Informed Term Selection: Determine whether new CTDL terms should be based on existing data model namespaces, enhancing consistency and coherence.
• Interoperability Support: Provide essential insights for establishing relationship alignments to terms in other data models, aligning with the CTDL Namespace Policy and boosting data interoperability.
• Enable Transformation: Support the aggregation, repurposing, and transformation of metadata expressed through diverse data models.
• Extend CTDL: Contribute to expanding the CTDL vocabulary by identifying and filling gaps through the addition of new terms, aligning with both current and aspirational use cases.

Your expertise and insights are crucial to the success of the CTDL Schema Crosswalks Planning Session. We encourage all CTDL advisory group members and anyone passionate about enhancing data interoperability to join us for this session.

Thank you for your dedication to advancing the credential transparency ecosystem. We look forward to your active participation and meaningful contributions during this session.