Introduction

Who has the responsibility for improving learning worldwide? Albert Einstein has been quoted as saying, "The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them." Perhaps the same can be said about our educational systems and processes.

The IMS Global Learning Consortium (GLC) has formed the Executive Strategic Council (ESC) for the purpose of providing leadership in highlighting the major challenges to the learning industry community worldwide, current and future, and to help guide the strategic priorities of IMS GLC. To encourage innovative responses to these challenges the ESC provides guidance to IMS GLC's Learning Impact Awards and Recognition Program. This annual program awards the most impactful uses of technology to address global learning challenges, and recognizes product and service innovation within the context of a specific institutional, system, country, or wider implementation.

In preparation for the inaugural April 2007 Learning Impact Awards, the ESC members were interviewed to provide their thoughts on the potential use of technology in addressing learning challenges. This article summarizes those thoughts and provides a brief synopsis of the 2007 Learning Impact Award finalists.