Re: Welcome to the W3C EOCred-schema WG

Greetings,

My name is Hugh Paterson III... I'm based out of Eugene, OR and I work
at SIL International https://www.sil.org <https://sil.org/> (based in
Dallas, Tx).

I am currently a UX analyst attached to SIL's Global Language Program
Training unit https://www.sil.org/training . At GLPT we develop
training materials, synchronize learning objectives across offered
training, and evaluate training offered (functioning much like an
accreditation agency). We focus mostly on subjects of linguistics and
language development. We are contracted by and work with a variety of
partners in the NGO world. We facilitate learning events ranging from
workshops to formal learning events which are also accredited through
Universities. We contract with institutions using SIL learning
resources and SIL staff to train (often minority language users) how
to do translation, create learning materials in their languages, and
do linguistic and cultural analysis on their language(s)/communities.

Often SIL's HR teams use certificates from the completion of SIL
courses to "certify" someone's eligibility to fill an SIL job role...
but nearly 400 other NGOs are using these certificates as well. We are
looking to expose this system more publicly as we realize that our
social contribution is greater than just preparing people to work for
our organization. Our hope is to align our competency usage with
relevant training providers and OER resources. We realize that we
might have some unique contributions, either in terms of competency
definition or in terms of open badges, but we do not need to horde
these or describe them in an independent manner. So for us a necessary
step is to formally describe learning resources through LRMI, describe
our courses, and then also related competencies. I get to stand on the
shoulders of giants. There have been people in my organization working
on producing competencies for 20 years, but some of this work hasn't
had benefit for us because we don't have the whole descriptive picture
in place - relating learning resources to learning objectives,
learning events, and HR competencies.

I found out about this work because I have lurked on the LRMI list for
a few years, and have worked with digital asset management.

I am looking forward to engaging with this group through the
development process.

all the best,
- Hugh Paterson III


On Thu, Nov 9, 2017 at 9:57 PM, Nate Otto <nate@ottonomy.net> wrote:

> Howdy,
>
> I'm Nate Otto, director of Open Badges Projects at Concentric Sky in
> Eugene OR. I'm the lead author of the Open Badges Specification
> https://openbadgespec.org within the IMS Global Open Badges Workgroup and
> former Interim Director of the Badge Alliance, which was this spec's former
> standards body. I'm currently in Redmond at IMS's quarterly meeting
> focusing on the early stage of an effort harmonizing IMS specifications
> crossing Credentials, Competency Frameworks, Transcripts and Program
> Completion/Competency Mastery Requirements ("Learning Pathways"). Open
> Badges is deeply rooted in the schema.org vocabulary already and is a
> broadly used credentialing framework in production across dozens of
> companies and countries around the world with over 10 million verifiable
> badges issued. I worked with Credential Engine last year to ensure the CTDL
> had a good understanding of concepts in use among badge issuers.
>
> Looking forward to contributing as this work spins up.
>
> Nate Otto
> Director, Open Badges, Concentric Sky
> nate@ottonomy.net | notto@concentricsky.com
>