PROVISIONAL EVIDENCE RECORDS FEATURES
- Recognise progression of learning
- Learners can share proof of their skills as they progress
- Gamification of learning drives motivation
Why a Provisional Evidence Record?
- Issue a dynamic, Provisional Evidence Record, recognising progression towards mastery during a study period
- Learners receive timely feedback, gain confidence as they progress and can share proof of their learning throughout, not just at the end, of their studies
- Provisional Evidence Records can provide gamification, as the learners track and drive their progress
- At the end of a course, they receive an immutable digital credential
How Provisional Evidence Records work
Provisional Evidence Records can be shared digitally prior to the immutable badge being issued at the end of a course. Provisional Evidence records are updated progressively across a period of time and show the latest achieved level of mastery until the final credential badge is issued.
To differentiate between the immutable Personal Evidence Record and a Provisional Evidence Record, a ‘Provisional’ watermark is displayed in the top left corner and the Verify button is disabled until the final badge is awarded. Once the final badge is issued, it can be verified instantly.
Provisional Evidence Records enable the recipients to share and demonstrate their current level of mastery during a course of study, supporting credential-as-you-go programs as well as recognition of prior learning. Learners can share where they are now from their digital backpack.
A Provisional Evidence Record recognises progression towards mastery during a study period. Learners receive timely feedback, gain confidence as they progress and can share proof of their learning throughout and not just at the end of their studies. Provisional Evidence Records use gamification to track and drive learner progress. At the end of a course, learners receive an immutable digital credential that can be instantly verified. Provisional Evidence Records make learners’ skills visible and are positioned in context with job markets through rich skill descriptors (RSDs), detailed evidence of skill achievement including artefacts, framework alignments and occupational and job market data.
Mastery-based education is an instructional model where learners progress through a curriculum only after they master a preceding level of knowledge or skill. Mastery levels are typically predetermined by an insitution may progress from a conceptual understanding to mastery of a subject with a number of levels inbetween. Learners move at their own pace and their learning path is determined by their progression of mastery, rather than the time they spend on a topic. Assessment in a master-based learning framework may not follow traditional lines, and could include performance-based or authentic assessments, learners may have multiple opportunities to be assessed and grading may not adhere to traditional rubrics. Mastery-based learning focuses on concepts as much as skills, as opposed to competency-based education (CBE), which focuses on demonstrated capabilities.
While the learner is still progressing through a course, they can share a Provisional Evidence Record recognising their current level of achievement. However the evidence record is watermarked as Provisional in the top corner and the Verify button is disabled. The purpose of a Provisional Evidence Record is to demonstrate a learners progression of learning, rather than their final, assessed level of achivement. An immutable badge on the other hand, is issued at the end of a course and recognises the final level of achievement reached. The immutable badge has a Personal Evidence Record embedded into the digital badge, with no Provisional watermark, and it can be verified instantly.
An example of Provisional Evidence Record in action
- A learner shares a Provisional Evidence Record to a prospective employer, then progresses to a higher mastery level.
- If the employer accesses the record after the learner has progressed, they will see the details of the new mastery level the learner has achieved, not the level they were at when the badge was initially shared.
- Once the immutable Personal Evidence Record is issued at the end of the course or study period, the employer will see the immutable badge and mastery level awarded, not the provisional one.
Key elements of the Provisional Evidence Record
Provisional Watermark – the provisional watermark displays in the top left for pending records and the Verify button is disabled (as Provisional Evidence Records are not attached to an issued digital badge and cannot be verified). Once the immutable (baked) badge has been issued, the provisional watermark disappears and the Verify button is enabled
Current Skill Level – learner-level performance data that clearly shows the learners’ current level of achievement. A description of what the learner has been assessed to know or apply in relation to that skill is displayed
Framework Alignments – skills and competencies can be aligned to education or industry frameworks, which addresses the gap between micro-credentials and the world of work. Details of the framework association are displayed within the personal evidence record, providing a way for employers to more easily understand the learner’s level of skill
Badge and Award Reflect Subject and Level – the learner’s proficiency in a particular subject is reflected in the badge and award, ensuring current level in a subject is immediately clear
Share Options Embedded – learners can digitally access and share their personal evidence record, which is embedded in a digital badge easily with their friends, colleagues, potential employers and others
Skill Information Link e.g. Rich Skill Descriptors (RSDs) – Rich skill descriptors (RSD) provide a common definition of a skill and gives the context behind the skill, allowing interoperability in credentials. They can contain things such as skill statements, skill keywords, standards or certification alignments, intelligent labour market data and occupational data in both human and machine readable formats
Embed Artefacts to Enrich Evidence – upload and store personal artefacts for learners in the form of files such as videos, images