{"id":23411,"date":"2015-11-03T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2015-11-03T05:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ceric.org\/2015\/11\/competency-credentials-with-open-badges-the-new-language-for-workplace-skills\/"},"modified":"2015-11-03T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2015-11-03T05:00:00","slug":"competency-credentials-with-open-badges-the-new-language-for-workplace-skills","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ceric.ca\/fr\/2015\/11\/competency-credentials-with-open-badges-the-new-language-for-workplace-skills\/","title":{"rendered":"Competency Credentials with Open Badges: The New Language for Workplace Skills"},"content":{"rendered":"

Open badges allow jobseekers to communicate competencies to employers and educational institutions across national boundaries and life transitions<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

By Don Presant<\/em><\/p>\n

There\u2019s a new language for skills developing in Canadian workplaces. It goes beyond resume keyword clich\u00e9s and rigid application forms. It focuses on the demonstration and assessment of skills, rather than how they\u2019re taught.<\/p>\n

As career professionals, we should be aware of this emerging language so we can help our clients use it to their advantage as it makes its way into the mainstream.<\/p>\n

What is a competency? <\/strong><\/p>\n

According to Canada West Foundation* and the Canadian Council of Chief Executives (CCCE), a competency is a job skill, the combination of knowledge and practical ability required to perform a task.<\/p>\n

When competencies are linked and combined into structured frameworks, they provide useful maps for hiring, building careers, managing workplace performance and promoting talent. This has been the work of Canada\u2019s sector councils and Tourism HR Canada has great examples. Another good model is the federal public service\u2019s Key Leadership Competencies.<\/p>\n

Employers tell us that \u201csoft skills\u201d are key: communication, teamwork, problem-solving, resilience, leadership and so on. These skills are traditionally hard to measure, but they are crucial to success.<\/p>\n

What is a competency credential?<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Open Badge Ecosystem (Badge Alliance CC BY-SA 4.0)<\/p><\/div>\n

A competency credential is a statement of capability that says, in effect, \u201cthis person can do this thing.\u201d Good assessments make good credentials. Unlike paper credentials, digital credentials can be shared online. If these digital credentials follow technology standards, they can be easily exchanged and start operating like an online skills currency.<\/p>\n

In 2010, Mozilla Foundation invented a new technology standard for digital credentials. They called this technology Open Badges<\/strong>, and it has been adopted by employers such as IBM and Microsoft and by DisasterReady.org, a global learning community for the humanitarian sector. Pearson Learning\u2019s Acclaim system has already issued over one million of these credentials for professional learning, and they\u2019re just getting started.<\/p>\n

Credentials that follow the Mozilla Open Badge standard can now follow people wherever they go: formal courses, extra-curricular activities, workplace training, open online learning. A transcript is no longer a static piece of paper from one institution, but a flexible collection of competency credentials from multiple sources. The credentials can be shared on social media like LinkedIn or displayed in ePortfolios to achieve career goals.<\/p>\n

How can Open Badge credentials support career development?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s explore our DisasterReady.org example. A person wanting to enter the sector can demonstrate commitment and introductory knowledge by earning DisasterReady.org\u2019s Humanitarian Starter Pack, a collection of learning activities provided by several organizations.<\/p>\n

Once recruited by an agency, orientation programs can generate new credentials. Ongoing professional development can be recognized for missions (\u201cBangladesh 2013\u201d or \u201cLiberia 2015\u201d) and growing expertise (\u201cLogistics,\u201d \u201cSecurity\u201d), based on experience and training programs, whether internal or external. This growing collection of personalized skills credentials can be searched on people assembling mission teams.<\/p>\n

As this person becomes a mid-career professional, he\/she may want to pursue a master\u2019s degree. DeakinDigital, subsidiary of a top-flight Australian university can formally recognize their Professional Practice at the master\u2019s level, awarding credentials for \u201csoft skills\u201d such as \u201ccommunication,\u201d \u201ccritical thinking,\u201d \u201cprofessional ethics\u201d in leadership roles.<\/p>\n

Open Badges can also help this person make a career transition to a new job in a new sector. If there are gaps, they can be filled as needed, without having to start from zero.<\/p>\n

Who is using Open Badges now?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a current short list, with a focus on access to education and employment:<\/p>\n