Catalyzing Connected Learning through Standards

For several decades, technology-supported learning has promised to revolutionize, personalize, and democratize learning. The advent of Web-based learning in the 1990s introduced a requirement for interoperability, which generated a demand for learning-specific interoperability specifications. Few of these have achieved significant adoption. One successful approach may be called a "Plug-and-Play Learning Activity". The IEEE Learning Technology Standards Committee standardized aspects of this approach and is undertaking a significant revision of the underlying data model. The organization is collaborating with the implementation-oriented LETSI Foundation to expedite the production of a revised standard. The increased importance of mobile operating systems and "smart" devices poses challenges to the implementation and adoption of the revised standard. A possible strategy to promote adoption is to define a learning application framework of general interest that utilizes mobile technology and that incorporates the revised standard.