The Essen Learning Model is a generic development model supporting development processes on three levels: development of curricula, learning sequences, and learning units. We focus on finding an adequate combination of didactical methods and educational technologies. Secondly, we focus on interoperability, reusability, and ease of use, using standards on the modeling level (ARIS), architecture level (LTSA, IMS), and implementation level (XML). The approach will enable educators, project managers, and authors to efficiently develop and implement Computer Supported Learning Environments.

Several standards like the Learning Technology Systems Architecture (LTSA) or the Instructional Management Systems Project (IMS) provide a format to interchange, reuse, and combine learning contents. They do not cover didactical methods in detail.