
Semantic Mapping of Data Standard Schema Properties and Classes: Supporting Learning & Employment Records
Based on a work at https://www.uschamberfoundation.org/t3-innovation.
Introduction
From April 2019 to June 2020, a group of data standards and schema organizations worked together to map their data standards to supporting Learning & Employment Records (LERs), a project within the T3 Innovation Network. Representatives from each organization provided experts and used a methodology to determine if properties in their schemas semantically map to an intermediary schema, referred to as the synthetic spine. The spine was generated by selecting the Common Education Data Standards (CEDS) as the base schema and adding properties from the mapped schemas that were not present in the base schema.
The result of the mapping work was a verbose synthetic spine that was then used by each agency for pairwise mapping of their schema(s). This ensured that every property appearing in the mapped schemas had a potential pairwise match and required the representatives handling the mappings to continue to review and map their schemas as the synthetic spine evolved. Each pairwise mapping was “tuned” by selecting a type from a prescribed set of mapping types as defined below.
This interim webpage provides information about the T3 Network’s data standards mapping work and will be replaced in 2020 with a new mapping tool that will be used to keep the mappings current. The mapping tool will also provide an opportunity for additional organizations--that maintain data standards--to participate and map their standards. The ability to download these mappings using standard formats is planned. Please email questions and issues to workforce@uschamber.com.
How to Understand the Mapping
This mapping consists of seven distinct classes or entities to support the T3 Innovation Network Priority Use Cases:
- Organization
- Person
- Employment
- Course
- Credential
- Competency
- Program of Study
Use the filters to view each class. The first column is the synthetic spine. It may include terms and their definitions for more than one schema. Each of the terms with their definitions identified to the right of the spine have been mapped to only the synthetic spine. The tuning or degree to which the terms match the spine are defined with the definitions below. The sort order goes from exact match to no match and is color-coded to help spot the differences between the terms and their definitions.
The mapping columns are organized as follows:
- Utility Weight, expressed as a percentage
- Synthetic Spine, including:
- Class/Type - The type of entity.
- Element/Property Label - The attribute of the entity being mapped expressed as an element or property.
- Element/Property Definition - The definition of the attribute from the schema.
- Data Standard Organization - The name of the data standard organization.
- Name of Schema - The name of the data standard that includes the elements/properties and definitions mapped.
- Alignments for each organization's schema, including:
- Organization - The name of the data standard organization.
- Schema - The name of the data standard that includes the elements/properties and definitions mapped.
- Class/Type - The type of entity.
- Element/Property Label - The attribute of the entity being mapped expressed as an element or property.
- Definition - The definition of the attribute from the schema.
- Issue - An issue on or comment on the mapping.
- Alignment - The type of alignment; the process of assigning the alignment is called tuning the mapping. See the Definitions and Legend below.
Mapping Team
The mapping team included the following organizations that committed time and expertise over the last year to complete this initial mapping.
- Achievement Standards Network (ASN)
- Common Education Data Standards (CEDS)
- Credential Engine (CE)
- Credential Transparency Description Language (CTDL)
- CTDL Profile of Achievement Standards Network (CTDL-ASN)
- HR Open Standards (HR Open)
- HR Open Assessments (click “Assessments”)
- HR Open Candidate (click “Recruiting”)
- HR Open Position Opening (click “Recruiting”)
- HR Open Screening (click “Screening”)
- HR Open Employment History (in Candidate) (click “Recruiting”)
- HR Open Resume or CV Standard (Development is in progress.)
- IMS Global (IMS)
- Postsecondary Electronic Standards Council (PESC)
- Schema.org* (Note: This is an unofficial mapping. Schema.org was not involved as an organization.)
Definitions and Legend
The color coding below is used to make it easier to see alignment matches and differences. The Utility Weight assigned to each alignment type is to display the overall strength of alignment for that property. The overall strength is calculated using the sum of the weights of the alignments divided by the highest possible weight.
Alignment | Tuning Alignment Definition | Color | Utility Weight |
---|---|---|---|
Identical | The definition is identical in wording and intent. This does not consider the extent for how the property is used. | Dark Green | 5 |
Reworded | The definition is identical in intent, with wording differences. | Medium Green | 5 |
Similar | The definition is similar in intent, but with wording differences. | Yellow | 4 |
Aggregated | Single property in the spine maps to multiple properties in the specification being mapped. | Dark Blue | 3 |
Disaggregated | Multiple properties in the spine, map to the property in the specification being mapped. | Light Blue | 3 |
Concept | The definition is related only at a conceptual level, with differences in the intention. | Orange | 2 |
Issue | Annotation to explain alignment where necessary to clarify or to interpret the mapping. | Pink | 1 |
No Match | There's no property to match to the property of a class in the spine. | Red | 0 |
Not Applicable | The specification does not include the class with properties in the context of this mapping. | None | 0 |
Synthetic Spine Property Mapping by Category
This section contains the mappings. Use the options below to display the mappings you are interested in.