Metadata standards provide frameworks for the description, discovery, and management of knowledge resources. Controlled vocabularies enhance effectiveness.

Learning objects use metadata to manage content and context. Learning objects are a key building block for marketplaces and repositories.

• OCLC (Online Computer Library Center Inc.) has facilitated the Dublin Core Metadata Initiative as a forum for the development and internationalization of interoperable cross-domain metadata standards. OCLC is a nonprofit membership organization that serves over 41,000 libraries in 82 countries.
• IEEE has accredited a Learning Object Metadata (LOM) Standard.
• IMS Global Learning Consortium, ADL initiatives, ARIADNE, and other initiatives have adopted or adapted LOM.
• Educational Modeling Languages (e.g., EML) are emerging as a means to describe and manage pedagogical usage of learning objects. IMS is working to situate this effort. These languages will assist in developing dynamic e-learning environments.
• The Global Knowledge Economics Council is leading efforts toward international standardization of knowledge management. It has made significant progress on the production of terminology and vocabularies to support this.
• The Digital Library Federation has developed METS, the Metadata Encoding Transmission Standard, as a generalized model for encoding descriptive, administrative, and structural metadata for digital library objects.
• The PRISM Working Group is developing a metadata standard for “syndicating, aggregating, post-processing, and multi-purposing content from magazines, news, catalogs, books, and mainstream journals.”
• ISO/IEC JTC1 SC36 is developing a common vocabulary for usage in the standardization of IT for learning, education, and training.
• HR-XML develops specifications aimed at producing industry standard vocabularies relevant to Human Resources (e.g., recruitment, staffing, competencies).
• XTM is advancing the Topic Maps Paradigm by leveraging XML to describe the associations between topics in heterogeneous collections of information.

Allows streamlined communication between a content repository and an LMS. Courses and learning objects can be transferred from one CMS/LMS to another, re-purposed, and combined.

• IMS Content Packaging specification (commercialized as LRN by Microsoft). IMS Simple Sequencing specification (under development).
• AICC guidelines and recommendations.
• ADL SCORM based in part on Aviation Industry work.
• IEEE LTSC is in the process of creating accredited standards based on two parts of SCORM that were derived from AICC specifications.
• MPEG has developed content standards for handling digital video and is in process of extending content management to include standards for managing intellectual property rights.