Learning standards drive public and private education by describing educational objectives or goals. While designing curriculums and creating content, educators refer to concise and written descriptions to answer important questions like what knowledge a student must acquire after completing a course and achieving a grade level. Learning standards provide educational boards with a framework to decide what students must learn to perform expected tasks at a particular stage in their academic journey.
According to Wikipedia, “Learning Standards are usually composed of statements that express what a student knows, can do, or is capable of performing at a certain point in their learning progression (often designated by ‘grade’, ‘class level’, or it’s equivalent). Learning standards have multiple uses in a modern education ecosystem. They can be links to content, and they can be part of a learning pathway or progression.”
Despite providing a robust framework, learning standards allow educational institutions to decide on the curriculum, content, assessment methods, and learning practices. Learning standards vary across countries. Each country regulates education by defining state-developed learning standards. They revise and update learning standards from time to time. We are discussing some of these next-generation learning standards for conventional and online learning.
Next-Generation Learning Standards
Conventional learning standards primarily emphasized content memorization. While following traditional learning standards, educational institutions focus on making students remember and recall content according to specific class or grade levels. However, new-generation learning standards prioritize the development of real-world skills like critical thinking and problem-solving.
They make educational institutions help students develop and hone skills instead of memorizing content. In addition, emerging learning standards encourage educational institutions to adopt and leverage technology. Adoption of educational technologies (edtech) helps schools drive skill development by personalizing students’ learning experiences.
The next-generation standards keep the learning process flexible and entertaining for younger students. They recommend that primary schools incorporate elements of play or games into their instructional methods. The elements of game or play will foster engagement and encourage curiosity. At the same time, these standards make several changes to the math standards to provide more time for students to master concepts.
The additional time will help middle school students understand statistics concepts more deeply. Likewise, high school students will have more time to learn topics in algebra. The new-generation standards further boost academic outcomes by providing more flexibility to teachers. For instance, they allow teachers to offer their choice of supportive learning materials to students.
The flexibility makes it easier for students to meet literacy standards by accessing dictionaries and similar resources shared by teachers. Finally, next-generation learning standards make educational goals attainable. Both students and teachers can reach expectations by taking their own time and creating their own learning paths.
Next-Generation Online Learning (eLearning) Standards
The next-generation learning standards emphasize the digital transformation of education. They create opportunities for educational institutions to personalize the learning experience by adopting edtech solutions. Edtech solutions and eLearning tools meet the latest guidelines and recommendations by following several online learning (eLearning) standards.
The eLearning standards facilitate seamless communication between eLearning tools provided by various companies. The communication helps organizations build unified learning platforms by integrating essential eLearning tools like digital library software, online classroom software, and learning management systems. Hence, we must discuss the next-generation online learning standards, along with the latest learning standards.
Experience Application Programming Interface (xAPI)
In a short amount of time, xAPI has become a new-age alternative to SCORM. As a combination of standards and specifications, the Sharable Content Object Reference Model (SCORM) standardized the creation and launching of eLearning courses. ELearning software like learning management systems (LMS) and content authoring software still comply with the mature technical standard to boost communication and interoperability.
XAPI scores over SCORM by supporting learner activities and learning experience tracking. The new-generation eLearning standards make digital learning tools effective in measuring learning experiences based on data collected from internal and external sources. In addition, it helps eLearning tools deliver superior learning experiences by supporting gamification, simulations, mobile learning, collaborative learning, and social learning. That is why; most providers switch from SCROM to xAPI to boost their eLearning software’s user experience (UX).
Computer-Managed Instruction 5 (cmi5)
Many edtech companies and startups still offer SCORM-compliant eLearning solutions. Their LMSs communicate with other eLearning tools using the communication and data methods provided by SCORM. At the same time, many edtech companies launch new-age eLearning tools compliant with xAPI. As a new-generation online learning standard, cmi5 helps providers bridge the gap between SCORM and xAPI.
Cmi5 defines interoperability rules for the structure, launch, authorization, and reporting of eLearning courses. The interoperability rules replicate the models provided by SCORM. At the same time, it supports instructional content compatible with xAPI. The handshake mechanism supported by the new-generation eLearning standard makes edtech tools effective in importing course structures exactly regardless of the hosting location of the materials or content.
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)
Most organizations these days implement cloud-based eLearning solutions to simplify configuration, customization, integration, and costs. Learners access the cloud-based software on their computers or mobile devices over the Internet. Hence, WCAG has emerged as a prominent online learning standard. Unlike xAPI and cmi5, WCAG emphasizes making web content accessible to each learner.
While developing eLearning content, creators comply with WCAG to ensure that the content can be accessed by learners with disabilities. The new-generation online learning standard improves digital content accessibility by recommending four principles – perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust.
Creators must keep the content perceivable by making it accessible to learners regardless of their sensing ability. Likewise, they must enable learners to acquire knowledge and complete courses without any hassle or obstacle. At the same time, creators must foster understandability by making the content easy to navigate. In addition, they must keep the content robust by enabling learners to acquire knowledge using their choice of devices and platforms.
Conclusion
While discussing next-generation learning standards, we must remember that academic standards vary across countries and states. However, emerging learning standards prioritize skill development over content memorization across countries. Likewise, emerging eLearning standards emphasize seamless communication between digital learning tools and edtech solutions provided by various companies. Hence, both conventional and online learning standards will continue to evolve according to changing needs and emerging trends.
