E-Learning Standards

Standards in E-learning are of utmost importance since they guide organizations to produce effective and robust e-learning environments. According to S. C. Babu (n.d), “Standards impose certain order providing more uniform and precise access and manipulation to e-Learning resources and data.” Thus such standards guarantee consistency in e-Learning systems. Various standards were developed to assist people in designing and creating e-learning content and environments.

As we have discussed in class, ISO (International Standard Organization) is a standard association that acknowledges and approves standards that are of de jure type. Until now, ISO has more than 18,000 standards. The main purpose of ISO is to unite the different techniques to develop e-learning systems. B. Peoples (2006), ISO chairman stated that “The standard represents the harmonized international know-how on quality for e-learning.”

Among the various standards accredited by ISO, I came across a very interesting standard which was certified in 2008: ISO/IEC 24751:2008, Information technology – Individualized adaptability and accessibility in e-learning, education and training. This standard seeks to cater for learners who have any type of disability by providing effective learning experience in e-learning environments. In this standard, disability does not only imply physical inabilities but also include inappropriate and inadequate environments (disruptive environments), unavailable resources (webcam, speakers, special keyboards, Braille monitors) and poor knowledge. Through this standard, all learners can use e-learning efficiently as their needs have been catered and satisfied.