#United States #Salt Lake City #Instructure #General Assembly #Canvas Learning

General Assembly's Adoption of Canvas Credentials

Instructure, a prominent player in the learning technology space and the creator of the Canvas Learning Management System (LMS), recently announced that General Assembly, a leading name in talent development and upskilling, has integrated Canvas Credentials into its educational framework. This strategic adoption aims to enhance the way skills are recognized, greatly aligning with the increasing need for job-ready skills in today’s competitive job market.

The Demand for Job-Ready Skills

The necessity for skills that are immediately applicable in the job market is more pressing than ever. According to the Boston Consulting Group, the average half-life of job skills has plummeted to below five years. This means that skills learned today can lose a significant portion of their relevance in just a few years, particularly in the fast-evolving technology sector. A survey by The Harris Poll, commissioned by Instructure, reveals that a staggering 73% of U.S. workers feel unprepared to navigate changes in their careers over the next five years, while about half are uncertain about which qualifications employers truly value. This concern underscores the importance of verified, skill-based recognition that bridges the gap between education and employment.

General Assembly’s decision to utilize Canvas Credentials is a vital step in addressing these challenges, ensuring its learners receive a verifiable, skills-based recognition that resonates with current workforce expectations.

Enhancing the Learner Experience with Canvas Credentials

Heather Luna, Senior Technical Product Manager at General Assembly, emphasized the institution’s goal to prepare students for the job market. She stated, "Canvas Credentials plays a critical role in that journey by helping learners verify their skills, stand out to employers, and showcase their achievements in ways that matter." Since becoming a Canvas LMS customer in early 2024, General Assembly viewed the integration of Canvas Credentials as a natural progression in their educational ecosystem. The seamless connection allows for automated workflows and enriched metadata to link badges to established skills frameworks, such as TalentNeuron.

This initiative marks a significant advancement in General Assembly’s offerings, spanning various educational programs—from immersive boot camps to corporate training sessions. The effective integration of Canvas Credentials provides a cohesive approach to credentialing that:

• - Tracks job-relevant skills transparently
• - Supports career advancement with digital badges
• - Improves the overall learning experience by providing easy access to verifiable achievements
• - Reduces manual processes through automation and LMS incorporation
• - Boosts brand visibility as learners actively share their accomplishments online

Embracing Future Changes in Education and Employment

Canvas Credentials is part of a larger, open ecosystem provided by Instructure, which encompasses not only the Canvas LMS but also a broad community of educators and learners. The system supports more than 500 APIs to allow for customized integrations, facilitating streamlined experiences that meet learner demands. As noted by Melissa Loble, Chief Academic Officer at Instructure, this adoption illustrates how innovative institutions can scale their impact while connecting learning to greater opportunities. She stated, "By leveraging Instructure's open ecosystem, General Assembly can seamlessly connect learning to opportunity, empowering individuals to showcase their skills, facilitating scalable credentialing, and assisting employers in building future-ready teams."

General Assembly now issues badges across a multitude of learning experiences, each designed to encapsulate the rigor and outcomes of their respective programs. This initiative not only motivates learners but also enhances their market visibility and recognition among employers. The badges serve as more than digital tokens; they signify achievement and potential, often bridging pathways to future opportunities.

Conclusion

Overall, General Assembly’s integration of Canvas Credentials significantly reflects broader trends within both education and the job market, such as the increasing prevalence of skills-based hiring and the demand for non-degree credentials. With this new approach, General Assembly is poised to redefine recognition in education, aligning closely with workforce readiness and offering validation to job seekers.

As the job landscape continues to evolve, initiatives like these indicate a promising shift toward a more skill-centric approach, ensuring individuals are well-equipped to thrive in their careers.