This is a multi-part standard that specifies learning object metadata. This part specifies a conceptual data schema that defines the structure of a metadata instance for a learning object. For this standard@ a learning object is defined as any entity??digital or non-digital??that may be used for learning@ education@ or training. For this standard@ a metadata instance for a learning object describes relevant characteristics of the learning object to which it applies. Such characteristics may be grouped in general@ life cycle@ meta-metadata@ educational@ technical@ educational@ rights@ relation@ annotation@ and classification categories. The conceptual data schema specified in this part permits linguistic diversity of both learning objects and the metadata instances that describe them. This conceptual data schema specifies the data elements which compose a metadata instance for a learning object. This part is intended to be referenced by other standards that define the implementation descriptions of the data schema so that a metadata instance for a learning object can be used by a learning technology system to manage@ locate@ evaluate@ or exchange learning objects. This part of this standard does not define how a learning technology system represents or uses a metadata instance for a learning object. Purpose The purpose of this multi-part standard is to facilitate search@ evaluation@ acquisition@ and use of learning objects@ for instance by learners or instructors or automated software processes. This multi-part standard also facilitates the sharing and exchange of learning objects@ by enabling the development of catalogs and inventories while taking into account the diversity of cultural and lingual contexts in which the learning objects and their metadata are reused. By specifying a common conceptual data schema@ this part of this standard ensures that bindings of learning object metadata (LOM) have a high degree of semantic interoperability. As a result@ transformations between bindings will be straightforward. This part of this standard specifies a base schema@ which may be extended as practice develops@ e.g.@ facilitating automatic@ adaptive scheduling of learning objects by software agents.