We see the connection.

We are I2IDL.

OUR WORK BEGINS IN JANUARY 2026.

THE OPPORTUNITY BEGINS NOW.

The Institute for Infrastructure and Interoperable Data in Learning (I2IDL) is an independent, non-governmental, non-profit organization advancing the science of open source data systems serving learning, training, and education organizations across the globe.

We maintain and operate essential open-source systems required for global learning data interoperability research and we serve as a hub for research and innovation in learning and training technologies.

Please contact us with questions about organizational and individual membership, fundraising, the institute’s open source TLA stack, R&D opportunities, and more.

We’ll be releasing more information about I2IDL as we get closer to the New Year. And we can’t wait to have you join us in a fresh approach to infrastructure and interoperable data research.

— Shelly Blake-Plock, Megan Torrance, Jim Goodell

Contact us to Learn

How You Can Be A Part of Our Mission.

Why I2IDL?

Interoperable data architecture depends on operational conformance testing and the resources that stakeholders need to ensure best practices.

Since 2017, the IEEE Learning Technology Standards Committee (LTSC) has been developing global data standards that support the Total Learning Architecture (TLA) — an approach to standards-based learning ecosystems that was designed and shepherded by the Advanced Distributed Learning Initiative.

I2IDL was established in late 2025 to ensure a non-governmental non-profit third-party organization could sustain to ensure the maintenance of the open source TLA resources and to create a new R&D funding mechanism for innovation in the space of technical infrastructure and data interoperability for global learning communities.

Membership

We are currently bringing on charter organizational members and will soon make an announcement highlighting these contributors. The institute will also offer individual memberships starting in January 2026.

I2IDL will be governed by a board of directors. The institute will host government, industry, and academic advisory councils — and you are encouraged to reach out if you have interest in participating.

The institute’s technical steering committee will be responsible for guiding the maintenance and development of open source — beginning with core TLA resources and conformance tests for xAPI and xAPI Profiles as well as capabilities for Learning Metadata, Shareable Competency Definitions, and Enterprise Learner Records.

Mission Pillar A: Sustain Core Open Source TLA Infrastructure

I2IDL will maintain and operate essential open source systems required for global learning data interoperability research:

  • Canonical xAPI conformance test suites

  • xAPI Profile Server and related linked-data services

  • TLA reference implementations

  • Shared metadata, competency, and learner record schemas

  • Machine-enabled capabilities and human-led advisory to ensure full TLA conformance and accreditation based on the model of ADL’s TLA Maturity Model

  • Continued support for and standards alignment with the IEEE Learning Technology Standards Committee and outreach and partnership with allied standards organizations

Mission Pillar B: Rebuild Public-Good R&D for Data Interoperabilty

I2IDL will create a new hub for research and innovation in learning and training technologies:

  • Competitive research grants

  • Public-private research partnerships

  • University collaborations

  • Technology incubation and spin-out pathways for TLA-based innovations