Focus on: Smart, ubiquitous and massive learning environments

This special issue originates from the first edition of the International Workshop on Semantic Technologies in Ubiquitous, Massive and Smart Learning (STUMS-2014) held in conjunction with IEEE INCoS 20141. STUMS, in its discussions, reflects the needs for a TEL (Technology Enhanced Learning) Framework able to integrate both formal and non-formal learning experiences, which are currently considered to be almost entirely separate worlds. Thus, the main idea of the above mentioned workshop and the present special issue is to: i) start from three research fields, Ubiquitous Learning (u-Learning), Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) and Smart Learning Environments (SLE), which propose both formal and non-formal TEL solutions, ii) abstract relevant elements, and iii) use such elements, together with other consolidated results, like personalized and adaptive learning principles, to accomplish the goal of integrating and aligning heterogeneous learning activities, from both methodological and technological viewpoints. Ubiquitous Learning allows people to learn anytime and anywhere, thus it is considered as the next generation e-learning. Ubiquitous Learning potentially overcomes the limitations of e-learning by building serendipitous, seamless, creative, novel, high degree of autonomy and learner-centered learning environments which are not subject to the constraints of space and time and exploit Context and Situation Awareness to improve the learning process. So, ubiquitous learning environments are settings for pervasive learning, where the learning experiences “immerse” learners who are involved in formal as well as non-formal activities. MOOCs (massive open online courses) are, typically, free courses deployed over the Web that are away from the traditional classrooms and support a huge number of enrolled students (even thousands of students per course). In successful MOOCs, we can find authentic strong communities, including learners