1. A computer-implemented method for publishing a learning application in a modular learning system, the method comprising steps of: receiving a learning application authoring request from a user device operated by an authoring user; validating authoring user credentials of the authoring user based on attributes associated with the authoring user in an authoring user database; providing a content editing interface for display to the authoring user; accessing a learning application template in a learning application template database and including a template in the content editing interface; storing the learning application including content metadata received from the user device, the learning application conforming to the learning application template and a content metadata describing parameters for performance of the learning application; receiving a publishing request from learning application authoring user; determining an approval status of the learning application; and publishing the learning application to a learning user marketplace or learning user library.