Reflecting on the LER Open House: Creating space for pressing credential conversations

On Wednesday, March 5, ASU’s Trusted Learner Network (TLN) hosted its first-ever LER Open House at the Global Forum in the Thunderbird School of Global Management. The event, which welcomed more than 80 participants, was more than just a gathering — it was a vibrant space for connection, collaboration and action.

Designed to continue the credential conversation beyond the 1EdTech Consortium’s Digital Credentials Summit, the LER Open House brought together digital credential practitioners, educators and industry leaders to reflect on key takeaways and explore how to move the Learning and Employment Record (LER) ecosystem forward.

"The LER Open House was a true testament to the power of collaboration and innovation in the digital credentialing space,” said Kate Giovacchini, Executive Director, Trusted Learner Network and ASU Pocket. “I am confident that the conversations sparked at the event won’t just stay within the walls of the Global Forum — they will carry forward to inform the future of the LER ecosystem.”

A space for connection and learning

Doors to the event opened at 12:30 p.m., with attendees arriving to a warm welcome and an opportunity to network over light refreshments. This informal start and casual atmosphere allowed colleagues to reconnect, network with new colleagues while setting the stage for meaningful conversations throughout the day.

As participants registered for the event, they were invited to share via a QR code what was on their mind after attending the Digital Credentials Summit. Several of these questions were later addressed during the Flash Panel of Action later at the LER Open House.

During the LER Open House Welcome, Giovacchini introduced the goals of the event, which included relaxing and unwinding, chatting with a person who you didn’t get to catch up with yet, and asking questions while providing answers, as well. “With a focus on engaging discussions and hands-on exploration, I really wanted to urge attendees to bring their curiosity – and their insights – to the table, said Giovacchini.

LER Ecosystem Showcase: Learning through demonstration

One of the highlights of the afternoon was the LER Ecosystem Showcase. ASU team members from TLN, ASU Pocket, Portfolio and CredID set up ecosystem stations where they demonstrated digital badging and portfolio technologies in action. Attendees had the chance to interact with experts, see live demos and engage in discussions about how these technologies are shaping the credentialing landscape.

The showcase allowed participants to exchange ideas, ask questions and explore how these tools could be implemented in their own contexts. "It was fantastic to engage with attendees at the LER Open House and hear their perspectives on digital credentialing in real time,” said Brooke Lipsitz, Program Manager, Trusted Learner Network. “It was also rewarding to share our technology in a space where real-world applications and challenges could be explored collaboratively. Events like this not only help us share our work but also inspire new ideas and innovations that will continue to shape not only the TLN, but the LER ecosystem as a whole."

From questions to action: Flash Panel of Action

At 2:00 p.m., the event shifted from discussion to action with the Flash Panel of Action. This interactive session invited participants to share the most pressing questions they had following the Digital Credentials Summit.

Some of these questions included:

• How do we scaffold an LER ecosystem and break down silos between different systems?
• How many wallets do students need? Will we be overwhelming them with logins and passwords?
• What’s something you now think is important for your organization to know but that you don’t yourself yet understand well enough to explain to colleagues why it’s important to know?

In true TLN fashion, attendees were not only given the opportunity to ask questions but also share their knowledge by providing solutions on the spot. This collaborative approach sparked productive conversations and left attendees with tangible takeaways and strategies they could apply immediately.

Keeping the momentum going

Before participants left the LER Open House, they gathered for final reflections and key takeaways. Discussions centered around the next steps for advancing the LER ecosystem, with many attendees leaving inspired by the day’s conversations and eager to apply their learnings to their work. The LER Open House reinforced the idea that digital credentials are not just a technology but a movement — one that thrives on collaboration, innovation and shared expertise.