Summary
This document details the authorities, rights and responsibilities of learner participants on the Trusted Learner Network. Learners on the Network are given the authority to access credentials affiliated with their identity and achievements that exist on the Network and to consent to share those records with whatever organization they choose, whether directly (should that organization exist on the TLN) or through the issuance of Verified Credentials using a digital wallet.
The Value of Participating in the Trusted Learner Network
- See your credentials in one place and access them with ease
- Bundle your credentials and share those achievements with only those that you consent to and revoke with ease
- Push your credentials out to a digital wallet to share and exchange credentials all over the world
Definition of Learner
A Learner is defined in the context of the Trusted Learner Network as an individual that has participated in and received a verifiable recognition of achievement, experience or accomplishment (a credential) through education, training, employment, participation or assessment, whose learning organization is a participant of the Trusted Learner Network.
Learner Rights
Learners participating in the Trusted Learner Network have the following authority on the Network.
Accessing Records
Learners have the authority to access credentials affiliated with an organization that is participating in the TLN.
Sharing Records
Learners are the only actors on the TLN that maintain the authority to share their own credentials with other entities or users. Learners may do so by granting access to credentials that have been issued to them to other participating organizations on the TLN or through sending those credentials to a digital wallet. Digital wallets are cryptographically secure applications that a learner may use to store portable representations of all kinds of credentials like achievements, identities or skills.
Learners have the right to utilize the Trusted Learner Network to issue Verified Credentials that can be placed into an SSI-enabled, compatible wallet. Learners who choose to do so may then present their records to any organization or individual independent of the TLN.
Attesting Record Integrity
Learners maintain the authority to dispute credentials they determine to be erroneous, and participate in an arbitration process with their issuing institution via the Trusted Learner Network.
Consent to Participate
Learners have the right to consent to participation in the Trusted Learner Network through their credential-issuing institution’s processes for managing student-enabling services and technologies. Learners have the right to opt out of participation in the TLN and have their credentials effectively removed from the Network and made inaccessible to any TLN participants. TLN recognizes that there are paths in which learners may be hesitant to be a part of the network or may be subject to particular circumstances in which participation would put the learner at risk or enhance existing risk, which is why this right is critical.
Right to Arbitration
Learners that are found to have acted unethically may be removed from participation in the TLN have the right to review and arbitration between the learner, issuing institutions involved and the TLN Governing Body and other governance mechanisms to be established.
Learner Responsibilities
Reporting bad behavior
It is the learner’s responsibility to report any bad actor behavior on the Trusted Learner Network by utilizing ‘Report’ functionality--this may include situations in which fraudulent or incorrect credentials have been issued or impersonation of another entity or individual.
Acting ethically and avoiding fraud
As a participant on the Trusted Learner Network, the learner is taking an active role in the ethical and responsible usage of credentials. Therefore, It is the responsibility of the learner to promote the integrity of the TLN. Learners are responsible for ensuring the ethical use of credentials (TLN credentials, TLN-issued Verified Credentials or any data affiliated with the learner), to report any misuse or fraud, and to ensure that the TLN retains its authority as a trusted repository of information.
TLN Governance
Aggregated Data Usage
The Trusted Learner Network may utilize aggregated, anonymized data to measure the success of the platform or for IRB Approved research purposes. This data would never be identifiable to an individual student.
Response to Unethical Actions
Trusted Learner Network reserves the right to dismiss a learner or organization that has been found to have acted unethically or in disregard of the rights and responsibilities of that actor. Individuals and organizations have the right to request arbitration.
Commitment to Policy Evolution
The Trusted Learner Network Governance bodies commit to the concept that these policies will evolve and change in response to requests by users and organizations, and to maintaining growth and expansion of use with market changes and evolutions in credentialing.