Edalex Podcast

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Skills are often invisible - and that’s a global problem. Traditional resumes typically capture only 20% of a person’s talent, leaving hard-won, life-wide skills unrecognised by employers.

In this webinar, the panelists and guest speakers move beyond the technical acronyms to hear the most important perspective in the skills ecosystem: The Learner and hear from them sharing about the profound "Aha!" moment of seeing their unseen skills finally verified and portable.

In this session, we explored:
✅ How the XCredit ecosystem (funded by Walmart) and SkillsAware translate lived experience into verified data.
✅Why durable skills, like leadership and adaptability, are the most critical yet least evidenced capabilities in the modern market.
✅ The human element: ensuring technology accelerates recognition without sacrificing the learner experience.

Speakers:

• Tara Laughlin, Ed.D. (Education Design Lab) – a leading voice in durable skills and the architect of learner-centered credentialing models.
• Nishita Chheda (Education Design Lab) – expert in skills-based research and learner advocacy.
• Margo Griffith (Edalex / SkillsAware) – Principal Skills Consultant focused on solving the wicked problem of skills recognition through auditable evidence.
• The Learners – hear directly from three professionals about the “Aha!” moment of seeing their unseen skills finally verified and portable.

Find out more at: edalex.com/credentialate
Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/edalex
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In this wide-ranging conversation, Dan McFadyen (Edalex & SkillsAware) sits down with Ray Fleming (Founder of Stratentia) to explore AI’s impact on education, workforce readiness, and the future of skills recognition.

Ray shares his “two-speed” analogy – where AI evolves at lightning pace while education moves more cautiously – and examines the growing tension between institutional change and employer expectations. The discussion unpacks why AI fluency is becoming essential for graduates, why durable human skills like critical thinking and communication matter more than ever, and how AI should serve as a tutor – not a teacher.

They also explore the urgent need to rethink credentialing beyond traditional degrees, highlighting the rise of STARs (Skilled Through Alternative Routes) and the shift toward employer-aligned skill validation. For organisations, Ray outlines the three phases of AI productivity – personal, process, and paradigm – emphasising governance, experimentation, and leadership communication as critical enablers.

Looking ahead, the message is clear: the winners won’t be those who use AI just for efficiency – but those who use it to drive growth, innovation, and deeper human connection.

Find out more at: edalex.com/credentialate
Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/edalex
Follow on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjTzWgfUthHonR7Z5LatKGQ

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This is an audio extract from the webinar where Tracey Singh (TAFE Queensland), Wendy Palmer, and Margo Griffith and Dan McFadyen (Edalex) explore how purpose-driven design, industry collaboration, and technology combined to deliver impact at scale through one of the most successful microcredential programs in recent history.

With over 83,000 enrollments, TAFE Queensland has achieved an astounding 62% completion rate for its industry-sponsored microcredentials, a figure that far surpasses the industry average.

This is more than a story of impressive numbers; it’s a blueprint for creating learning that delivers genuine impact. Learn how a clear purpose, a collaborative industry approach, and strategic use of technology created a framework that not only scales but also fosters significant participation from learners in Pacific nations, a high proportion of whom are women.

What we cover:

• Design for Impact: Discover how to create microcredentials that are valuable enough for industry to sponsor and learners to complete.
• Achieve Unprecedented Completion Rates: Understand the strategies and incentives that led to a completion rate four times higher than the industry average.
• Scale with Technology: See a real-world example of how automation can remove administrative barriers and enable massive growth without sacrificing quality.
• Build Social Equity: Learn how to create inclusive learning pathways that meet the needs of diverse learners and communities.

Panelists:

• Tracey Singh – Director, Product, TAFE Queensland
• Wendy Palmer – Director, Lifelong Learning Practice
• Margo Griffith – Principal Skills Consultant, Edalex
• Dan McFadyen (Moderator) – Managing Director, Edalex

Learn More:

Read the Use Case here: https://www.edalex.com/credentialate/use-cases/scale-and-sustainability-through-automation-with-tafe-queensland/

Find out more at: edalex.com/credentialate
Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/edalex
Follow on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjTzWgfUthHonR7Z5LatKGQ

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This is an audio extract from the webinar hosted by Gemma McLean, Regional Director for K–12 at Instructure (APAC), who joined Margo Griffith from Edalex and Darren Ponman of Hunter School of the Performing Arts (HSPA) in a spotlight session – Beyond Grades: HSPA’s Innovative Path to Student Success. Together, they revealed how HSPA leverages Canvas and Edalex’s Learner Dashboard to transform mastery learning and digital credentials, providing students with verified, lifelong records of achievement.

What the webinar covers:

• Discover a proven Canvas use case – see how HSPA has successfully implemented a mastery learning approach within Canvas.
• Explore the Learner Dashboard – understand how provisional evidence and digital credentials provide a richer, more holistic view of student progress.
• Empower student ownership – learn how students gain a portable, lifelong record of their achievements, boosting employability and future readiness.
• Enhance reporting and insights – see how administrators and educators can gain deeper insights into student learning and growth beyond traditional grades.
• Witness true partnership in action – understand how collaboration and innovation can tailor solutions to meet specific institutional needs.
  1. Formal vs informal learning
  2. Role of micro-credentials, digital badges, and portfolios
  3. Cross-sectoral recognition (HE, VET, workplace)

Panelists:

• Gemma McLean – Regional Director K-12, Instructure
• Darren Ponman – Deputy Principal, Hunter School of the Performing Arts (HSPA)
• Margo Griffith – Principal Skills Consultant, Edalex

HSPA Students:

• Zali Edwards – Student, Year 7
• Clara Zappulla – Student, Year 8
• Sophia Noronha – Student, Year 9

Learn More:

Read the Use Case here: https://www.edalex.com/credentialate/use-cases/hspa-use-case/

Find out more at: edalex.com/credentialate
Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/edalex
Follow on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjTzWgfUthHonR7Z5LatKGQ

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This is an audio extracted from the webinar co-hosted by Edalex, Education Design Lab and Unicon Inc. where the panelists explore how XCredit created an interoperable ecosystem that validates skills and connects learners to careers.

What the webinar covered:

• The “Why” (Human Focus): Understand the Lab’s mission to validate existing skills and empower learners in the talent marketplace. Hear about the challenges faced by individuals whose skills aren’t always recognised by traditional credentials.
• The “How” (Human Focus): Discover the practical steps taken to establish an ecosystem where learners can take assessments, earn credentials and showcase their verified abilities on platforms like SmartResume.
• The Technology Behind the Magic (Technical Focus): Learn about the critical role of data interoperability and how Edalex’s Credentialate acts as the central nervous system, connecting various technologies to ensure a smooth learner experience and verifiable skill data.
• Lessons from the Field (Both Human & Technical): Gain valuable insights into the obstacles overcome, the successes achieved, and the key learnings from building this complex, multi-partner system.
• Real Learner Stories (Human Focus): Hear how individuals are leveraging the XCredit ecosystem to advance their careers and gain recognition for their diverse skills. 
• Answers to Your Questions: The panel will address questions posed by attendees. You can submit questions ahead of the webinar via email (further details in the confirmation email, sent after registering).

Panelists:

• Tara Laughlin, EdD – Director, Skills Development + Validation, Education Design Lab
• Mary Gwozdz – Software Architect, Unicon, Inc.
• Margo Griffith – Principal Skills Consultant, Edalex
• Dan McFadyen (Moderator) – Managing Director, Edalex

Recognised for Innovation:

The impactful work of the XCredit project has been recognised as a finalist in the prestigious Learning Impact Awards, awarded by 1EdTech.

Read the Press Release here: https://www.edalex.com/news/edl-xcredit-powered-by-credentialate-2025-learning-impact-awards/ 

Learn More:

Read the Use Case here: https://www.edalex.com/credentialate/use-cases/first-stackable-end-to-end-credentialing-integration-for-xcredit/ 

Find out more at: edalex.com/credentialate
Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/edalex
Follow on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjTzWgfUthHonR7Z5LatKGQ

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In this interview, Dan McFadyen and Don Presant, President of Learning Agents discuss open recognition, evolving from digital badges to broader trust systems. Don highlights open recognition’s importance in validating learning, performance, and community involvement. He explains how it encapsulates stories in badges, unlocking opportunities in careers and learning. They delve into how Learning Agents assists organisations in deploying digital credentials, helping to overcome challenges by providing flexible recognition frameworks. The conversation also touches on the difficulty of assessing “durable skills” and the potential of platforms like SkillsAware to assist individuals in articulating their capabilities.

• 00:01:10 - Why Open Recognition Matters in Today’s Learning Landscape
• 00:07:21 - Connecting Evidence of Learning Outcomes to Real-World Value
• 00:12:31 - Learning Agents’ Journey to Creating Trust and Transparency in Open Recognition
• 00:18:14 - Global Collective Efforts in Building Skills Recognition Ecosystems
•  00:27:10 - Recognition and Reconciliation: Learning from First Nations Perspectives
• 00:33:48 - ePIC in Paris – Shaping the Future of Open Recognition
• 00:40:24 - The Future of Open Recognition: AI Technology, Skills Literacy, and Lifelong Learning

Credentials just got personal - Unleash the power of your skills data and personal credentials

Credentialate is the world’s first Credential Evidence Platform that helps discover and share evidence of workplace skills.

Find out more at: edalex.com/credentialate
Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/edalex
Follow on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjTzWgfUthHonR7Z5LatKGQ

Find out more at: edalex.com/credentialate
Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/edalex
Follow on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjTzWgfUthHonR7Z5LatKGQ

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Held on 23 April 2025, this webinar explored how a state government, industry, and learners are impacted by the rise of skills and ways in which Community Colleges can respond to the looming skills emergency leveraging technology.

Current worker shortage estimates put the skills gap at 1 billion globally and 75 million in the U.S. by 2030. Community Colleges are stepping up to address this skills breach and can do much to respond by leveraging new and existing technology, starting with asking: What do we want to recognize and why? How could we recognize the learning of those with some college / no degree? How do we also capture and recognise human-centred skills (soft, durable skills) valued by employers?

In this webinar, the panel addressed the challenges and opportunities currently faced by Community Colleges including impacts on rural Community Colleges, heard a state government, industry and learner perspective on the impact of skills on the education to employment journey, why industry-led curriculum development is and should be on the rise, how AI can help with the administrative burden, and how Community Colleges can leverage their existing systems (such as their LMS and SIS) to unlock skills recognition data to enable scalable solutions.

Rounding out the webinar was a showcase of some of the practical guides and technology tools (free and paid models) currently available to assist Community Colleges in achieving skills recognition success.

Panelists:

• Chris Breitmeyer – President of the Rural Community Colleges Network, whose member institutions serve the 89.3 million people who reside in rural America
• Nicole Tucker – Chief Operating Officer at Louisiana State Civil Service, who recently shifted away from requiring degrees to a skill-based hiring model
• James McKenzie – Manager at Heglar Creek Electric & Heglar Creek Plumbing, graduate of College of Southern Idaho (CSI) who also works to co-design skills based learning with his Community College partner
• Dan McFadyen – Managing Director and Margo Griffith – Principal Skills Consultant from Edalex, a skills technology company at the cutting edge of skills recognition data software

Find out more at: edalex.com/credentialate
Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/edalex
Follow on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjTzWgfUthHonR7Z5LatKGQ

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In this interview, Dan McFadyen, Managing Director of Edalex, and Bill Hughes, President and CEO of Education Design Lab explore the Lab’s work to create a more inclusive and adaptable learning ecosystem. The Lab focuses on “New Majority Learners” (or STARs) who are underserved by traditional education pathways. Their XCredit project validates skills acquired through alternative routes, making them recognisable and transferable. The discussion also covers the complexities of standardising skill recognition and the transformative potential of educational technology. Education Design Lab envisions a future where community colleges become “talent partners” for industry, fostering lifelong skilling opportunities, and ensuring that edutech supports all learners, particularly the New Majority.

02:30 - Education Design Lab Breaking Traditional Barriers for New Majority Learner
10:13 - Recognising Skills Beyond Degrees: How XCredit Project Empowers New Majority Learners
20:42 - How Standards and Skill Validation Elevate the Learner-Earner Journey
34:11 - Funding and AI Technology – the Lab’s Transformative Forces For Shaping the Future of Education
46:15 - The Lab’s 5-Year Vision to Transform Community Colleges into Talent Partners for Industry

Find out more at: edalex.com/credentialate
Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/edalex
Follow on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjTzWgfUthHonR7Z5LatKGQ

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In this interview, Dan McFadyen, Managing Director of Edalex, and Julian Ridden, Head of Growth for Australia at Quizizz delve into the role of AI in education. They discuss the potential benefits and risks of AI, emphasising the need for thoughtful integration in educational settings. They also highlight the importance of understanding the risks associated with AI, such as bias and data security. The conversation emphasises the need for caution in AI adoption and the importance of using AI to solve genuine problems in education. Overall, they express optimism about the future of AI, and its ability to enhance human experiences and education, while also acknowledging the need for proactive measures to adapt to technological advancements.

3:18 - Unpacking the Potential of AI in Education and Keeping Up with Rapid Advancements
11:47 - Balancing Mitigated Risk and Reward in Gen AI Integration Strategies
22:17 - Navigating Hidden Risks from Gen AI and its Adoption in Education Settings
30:53 - Harnessing the Power of AI - Overcoming Challenges and Opportunities for Educators
43:46 - How to Ride the AI Wave - Crafting EdTech Solutions That Solve Real Problems
49:28 - AI's Revolutionary Impact on Education and Society in the Future

Find out more at: edalex.com/credentialate
Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/edalex
Follow on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjTzWgfUthHonR7Z5LatKGQ

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In this interview, Dan McFadyen, Managing Director of Edalex engages with Taylor Kendal, President of Learning Economy Foundation to explore LEF’s initiatives, including LearnCard and the LearnCloud, aiming to revolutionise education and employment record infrastructure through open-source, interoperable systems a.k.a Digital Skill Wallet. Their conversation anticipates a future where individuals have greater control over their learning and employment agenda, fostering socio-economy mobility rebalancing and lifelong learning opportunities, while the LEF’s vision extends to stewarding this infrastructure’s widespread adoption and impact over the next five years and beyond.

1:33 – Learning Economy Foundation’s Innovative Path and its LearnCard’s Impacts
7:27 – Transforming Scouts Recognition through the LearnCard’s Digital Wallet Technology
17:44 – Unlocking Education and Employment Opportunities with Digital Wallets and Strategic Partnerships
21:53 – Navigating the Applicability and Impacts of LEF’s Open Digital Wallet Tool – LearnCard
27:55 – Bridging Data Silos through Interoperability – LEF’s Vision for their LearnCloud Initiative
34:11 – LEF’s Vision in Connecting Learning to Work towards the Skills-based Economy

Find out more at: edalex.com/credentialate
Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/edalex
Follow on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjTzWgfUthHonR7Z5LatKGQ