Data Modeling for Identification and Classification of Learning Outcomes in Flexible Educational Learning Units

Due to the growth of technology and the change of population demographics, traditional and formal education is not enough to support people of all ages. Higher education institutions play a significant role in providing learning opportunities for them. The educational programs have been designed to provide flexible learning pathways that serve the diverse needs and backgrounds of the target groups. Upskilling and reskilling are alternative educational programs that are shorter than traditional degrees due to the critical need to acquire new and relevant technological skill sets. However, different institutions may use varied names or definitions for their educational learning units. Therefore, the learning outcomes of these units serve as crucial indicators of the knowledge and skills that learners acquire upon completion. Additionally, they have been identified and compared during the credit transfer process across diverse programs or institutions. Due to a descriptive and subjective learning outcome, the levels of learning like Bloom's taxonomy are needed to standardize and classify learning outcomes of an educational learning unit. In this paper, we generalize a range of educational learning programs available through educational or training institutes, including both online platforms and on-site offerings, using common terms and definitions for educational learning units. This enables us to effectively store and organize their corresponding learning outcomes. We then design a data model on both conceptual and logical levels to organize the learning outcomes associated with each learning unit. Finally, we present a web-based prototype that demonstrates how learners track their learning progress and know where they stand from broader outcomes for the entire program. The web prototype also provides recommendations for other relevant programs, allowing learners to focus on specific areas of development and make informed decisions about their learning pathway.