Digital Learning in ‘Inside Higher Ed’ This Week

Several articles relevant to "Inside Digital Learning" readers appeared in Inside Higher Ed this week:

• Credential Engine is working to expand its searchable database of U.S. credentials with a little help from companies and organizations interested in education data, the nonprofit organization announced last week. Ellucian, Credly, BrightHive, DXtera, Powerminds and Credential Commons have all agreed to partner with Credential Engine to help add new credentials to its growing national directory of degrees, as well as diplomas, digital badges, certificates and other nondegree credentials.
• Inside Higher Ed last week released its latest print-on-demand compilation, "Why Metrics Matter." You may download a copy here, free.
• House Democrats questioned Education Secretary Betsy DeVos on a Trump administration proposal to open the Pell Grant program to "high-quality" short-term programs. DeVos appeared before the House appropriations subcommittee that authorizes education spending for a hearing on the administration's proposed fiscal year 2020 budget, and faced questions about how it would ensure that "something like a Trump University" doesn't benefit. DeVos said the administration would work with Congress to make sure "appropriate boundaries or guardrails are put in place" for short-term Pell.
• The National Science Foundation has completed the first phase of an experiment to tap outside expertise to design tools for a better understanding of the skills needed for jobs at the large federal agency, which employs 2,100 workers at its headquarters in Alexandria, Va. The project, dubbed the Career Compass Challenge, aims to tap technology such as artificial intelligence to map the knowledge and skills its employees need and have earned. Its goal is to help employees plot a path for changing careers or moving up in their current job, and to assist them in continuously developing their skills.