User model interoperability in education: sharing learner datausing the experience API and distributed ledger technology

Abstract

Learning analytics and data mining require gathering and exchanging learner data for further processing and designing of activities tailored to learner’s characteristics, context, and needs. Currently, systems that store learners’ attributes should, ideally, be operated and controlled by responsible and trustworthy authorities that guarantee the protection and sovereignty of data and use objective criteria to protect and represent all parties’ interests. This chapter introduces a peer-to-peer method for storing and exchanging learner data with minimal trust. The proposed approach, underpinned by the Experience API standard, eliminates the need of a mediator authority by using distributed ledger technology.