Enhancing Emerging Learning Objects with Contextual Metadata Using the Linked Data Approach

The latest developments in mobile technologies have increased the possibility for users to generate digital content at any location and time. In this paper we present our current research efforts related to the ability to enhance digital content that emerge when mobile devices are used to support different learning activities. We believe that these emerging learning objects should be enriched with contextual characteristics in a machine interoperable and interpretable manner in order to preserve the meaning, or semantics, of those features. There are a number of approaches to address this problem but in the present article we focus on exploring the potential added value of using Linked Data to depict emerging learning objects with contextual metadata. Our preliminary findings indicate that Linked Data offers a flexible approach for supporting important aspects of digital content related to data linkage, data merge and semantic interoperability.