1. A system for collaborative and interactive learning, the system comprising: a server that generates a forum interface for an online learning environment, the server including: memory; and a processor that executes instructions stored in memory, the instructions executable by the processor to: connect a plurality of users for a discussion to the forum interface, wherein the forum interface displays a list of standardized discussion or interaction types to one of the plurality of users, receive a selection of a discussion or interaction type from the one of the plurality of users, receive at least one written submission from at least one user of the plurality of users, wherein the received submission is in a structured format including quantitative collaborative input elements, is evaluated to ensure that the submission is related to the discussion or interaction type, and is extensible to other users participating in the online learning environment by way of an application executed at a computing device associated with the other users, the structured format associated with the selected discussion or interaction type, and wherein the at least one written submission and the discussion or interaction type form a self- contained learning unit, the self-contained learning unit embeddable in a digital environment, display the at least one written submission that is evaluated to be related to the discussion or interaction type on the forum interface, and record user activity in real time; and a plurality of end-user client devices that are communicatively coupled to the server over a communications network, the plurality of end-user client devices allowing for collaboration and interaction with the server in real time by way of the forum interface.