“This standard defines methods for storing and retrieving learning objects for remote laboratories. The standard will also define methods for linking learning objects to design and implement smart learning environments for remote online laboratories. These objects are, for example, interfaces for devices connected to user computers over computers networks and the devices themselves. They are also learning scenarios or collaboration tools for communications necessary to conduct an activity of practical online laboratory work; to design and implement mechanisms that make smart learning environment formed by the ad hoc aggregation of learning objects taking into account the pedagogical context for their use.”

The current PAR’s extension expires on 31 December 2019.

Workshops and Standards Committee meetings were conducted in the framework of EDUCON Conferences in Berlin (March 2013), Istanbul (April 2014) and Tallinn (March 2015), as well as on multiple other occasions at several Remote Engineering and Virtual Instrumentation (REV), IEEE Frontiers in Education (FIE) and American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE) conferences. New collaborations emerged with the IEEE ICI (Industry Connection Initiative) and related workshops were offered at San José, Costa Rica (July 2016) and Boca Raton, Florida (July 2017). Education Society liaison was also established with IEEE Industry Connection for Learning Engineering (ICICLE) initiative started in January 2018. Keynotes and tutorials were given on Standardization of Online Laboratories for Education.by the Chair at several conferences, most recently at TALE 2018 in Wollongong, NSW, Australia (December 2018), at Learning With MOOCS (LWMOOCS) in Madrid (September 2018), at CSEDU2018, in Madeira, Portugal (March 2018).

The P1876 balloting process officially started on 26 October 2018 and closed on 26 November 2018. The resolution of comments and ballot recirculation was concluded early in 2019, and the approval of the draft for a full standard passed at the IEEE Board meeting in Munich on 20 March 2019.

Most recently a discussion was initiated via iMeet Central, our online collaborative work environment, among both EdSoc Standards Committee members and P1876 WG members on starting a new standard. Thus far, several suggestions were received on various aspects of educational technologies, including cybersecurity, IoT, lab interoperability, federated labs, learning analytics, and several others. While the P1876 WG has had many members over time, its current leadership includes:

• Hamadou Saliah-Hassane, Chair
• Luis Felipe Zapata Rivera, Vice Chair
• Janusz Zalewski, Secretary
• John Shockley, Technical Editor