Helping Learners Tell Their Story: Showcasing Skills Through Digital Learner Records.

Students leave our institutions each year with valuable knowledge and skills, yet many struggle to communicate what they have learned to employers. Traditional methods such as transcripts, resumes, and LinkedIn profiles do not fully capture the competencies, experiences, and achievements developed during college. Digital credentials and emerging learner-record frameworks offer new ways to make student learning more visible, verifiable, and portable. By aligning skills to learning outcomes and issuing microcredentials tied to demonstrated competencies, institutions can begin building the foundation for richer learner records that extend beyond the traditional transcript. This session will explore how digital credentials, Comprehensive Learner Records (CLRs), and Learning and Employment Records (LERs) fit together conceptually and technically. Drawing from institutional experience with digital credential initiatives and credential-aligned learning design, the session will focus on what institutions can do now to move toward more complete digital learner records without requiring large-scale system changes. The session will also highlight examples of how institutions across the country and internationally are approaching this work. Participants will leave with a clearer understanding of the credential ecosystem and practical starting points for helping learners better communicate their knowledge and skills.