IEEE 2881-2025

This standard builds on IEEE Std 1484.12.1-2020 [B5] to encourage exploration of new learning paradigms and modern technology practices. This standard specifies a conceptual data model that defines the structure of a metadata instance. This conceptual data model specifies the data elements that compose a metadata instance for multiple learning types. This standard does not define how a learning technology system implements the data model. The standard describes a data model using the Resource Description Framework (RDF) that is independent of any particular serialization [including JSON for Linked Data (JSON-LD)] and capable of being expressed in or mapped to any serialization format. Because this standard lacks any specific format or serialization, system conformance tests are outside the scope of the standard.

The purpose of this standard is to facilitate search, evaluation, acquisition, use and resourcing of learning content and events. It enables the development of catalogs and inventories while taking into account the diversity of cultural and linguistic context in which learning occurs. By specifying a common conceptual data model, semantic interoperability is increased.

New IEEE Standard - Active. New and existing metadata terms were contextualized around learning and bundled to address many common use cases of metadata, resulting in the formation of this standard. A series of classes and properties that intentionally align to a Resource Description Framework (RDF) type of model, which can be represented in many formats, including graphs, is described by this standard. It centers around different types of Learning Resources and Learning Events, distinguishing between the two as both were often previously categorized as Learning Objects. An extensible data model that focuses on the principles of sharing learning resources in a learning environment and describing learning events, sometimes “instances” of learning resources that learners may attend (virtually or in-person), is described by this standard.