Standards for smart education – towards a development framework

Abstract

Smart learning environments (SLEs) utilize a range of digital technologies in supporting learning, education and training; they also provide a prominent signpost for how future learning environments might be shaped. Thus, while innovation proceeds, SLEs are receiving growing attention from the research community, outputs from which are discussed in this paper. Likewise, this broad application of educational digital technologies is also the remit of standardization in an ISO committee, also discussed in this paper. These two communities share a common interest in, conceptualizing this emerging domain with the aim to identifying direction to further development. In doing so, terminology issues arise along with key questions such as, 'how is smart learning different from traditional learning?' Presenting a bigger challenge is the question, 'how can standardization work be best scoped in today's innovation-rich, networked, cloud-based and data-driven learning environments?' In responding, this conceptual paper seeks to identify candidate constructs and approaches that might lead to stable, coherent and exhaustive understanding of smart learning environments, thereby providing standards development for learning, education and training a needed direction. Based on reviews of pioneering work within smart learning, smart education and smart learning environments we highlight two models, a cognitive smart learning model and a smartness level model. These models are evaluated against current standardization challenges in the field of learning, education and training to form the basis for a development platform for new standards in this area.

A Review of Technical Standards for Smart Cities

“…Data and analytics will also assist next-generation teachers to familiarize their counselling and teaching for greater student achievement. More creative and personalized education plans can be created such as virtual learning environments [40].…”

A survey of adaptive context-aware learning environments

“…Effectiveness, efficiency and ability to engage the learner are among the most desired features of any learning environment. A learning environment is called "smart", if it achieves these characteristics by being context-aware and adaptive to the learner's needs and preferences [53,103]. Smart learning environments (SLEs) can therefore be seen as overlapping with ACALEs.…”

A Standard Assisted Instruction System in E-Education

“…The explanation of such a phenomena is because the character of human reasoning which it was different during various stages of the development of a human cognitive system. For example, in [2], based on reviews of pioneering work within smart learning, smart education, and smart learning environments, the authors highlight two models, a cognitive smart learning model, and a smartness level model. These models are evaluated against current standardization challenges in the field of learning, education and training to form the basis for a development platform for new standards in this area.…”