Key Takeaways:
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When digital learning systems are truly interoperable, users don’t notice the technology at all. Students and educators can move seamlessly between tools without friction, allowing them to focus entirely on learning and teaching rather than managing systems.
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The seamless experience depends on shared technical standards that allow different systems to communicate. Without these standards, institutions face siloed tools, duplicate work, limited data visibility, and higher costs.
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Open standards are especially critical because no single tool can meet all needs, so systems must work well together.
When digital learning works the way it should, learners don’t think about the technology at all; they simply use it to learn. Achieving that level of seamless, connected experience requires an educational ecosystem built on interoperability.
When done right, interoperability lets students and educators move effortlessly between tools, so they can focus on teaching and learning, instead of making the technology work. Learner data follows the individual, giving educators a clear, complete picture of progress. Systems become flexible, so IT teams can save time and money when tools need to be added or removed to support outcomes.
As Beth Ardner of Gobekli.io put it, “When interoperability works, it is indistinguishable from magic. Importantly, you should never know that you're moving from system to system.”
“Magic” Comes from Standards
But that “magic” isn’t accidental; it’s the result of intentional design and shared standards working behind the scenes.
“Standards are a list of rules for how software should be written so that it can communicate with other systems,” explained Mary Gwozdz, Unicon
With these rules in place, institutions can move beyond siloed systems and create connected ecosystems that actually function as one. Without interoperability, that experience breaks down quickly.
Students are forced to manage multiple logins. Educators lack visibility into learner activity or have to re-enter information into multiple systems. Institutions deal with disconnected systems, duplicated work, and rising costs.
“We want the humans to have interoperability as well; for them to be able to navigate all of the systems through a seamless user experience,” said Tara Laughlin, Education Design Lab
Putting the Focus on What Matters
With interoperability, fragmented systems turn into connected experiences so people can focus on what matters most: teaching, learning, and growth. Interoperable systems allow for:
- Seamless experiences: No friction moving between tools
- Clearer learning journeys: Data flows across systems, giving a complete picture of progress
- Greater flexibility: Institutions can choose the best tools without being locked in
- Better outcomes: Learners can understand and communicate what they know and can do
“Interoperability is going to make or break whether or not we’re successful in building a really verifiable and portable learning employment record for our students,” said Julia Spears from Marshall University.
Open Standards are Critical
And because no single tool does everything, openness is critical.
“There’s not ever one tool or one technology that really does everything for everybody so being open, and having interoperability as a focus, means that your clients are going to be more successful,” said Johnny Bayerl, D2L
Interoperability reduces friction, increases flexibility, and enables better outcomes for learners. And when it works, it fades into the background; exactly where it belongs.
To learn more about EdTech’s open standards and how each helps make education technology work better for everyone, click here.
About the Author
As Senior Vice President of Ecosystems and Membership Development for 1EdTech, Jeanette Wiseman supports engagement across the 1EdTech community and helps ensure our members are positioned to lead and thrive in a connected, standards-driven community. Her work is grounded in a long-standing commitment to equity and access, informed by more than two decades working across education and technology and a career that began in the classroom.