Learning object 18126 220734961 2008-06-21T09:26:31Z Leszek Jańczuk 6848259 Digital Audio Learning Objects A '''learning object''' is a resource, usually digital and web-based, that can be used and re-used to support learning. Learning objects offer a new conceptualization of the learning process: rather than the traditional "several hour chunk", they provide smaller, self-contained, re-usable units of learning.<ref name="beck" /> They will typically have a number of different components, that range from descriptive data to information about rights and educational level. At their core, however, will be instructional content, and probably assessment tools. A key issue is the use of metadata. Learning object design raises issues of portability, and of the object's relation to a broader learning management system. ==Definitions== There are various definitions of the term. As David Wiley observes, "the proliferation of definitions for the term 'learning object' makes communication confusing and difficult".<ref>{{Harvnb|Wiley|2000|p=5}}</ref> Most generally, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) defines a learning object as "any entity, digital or non-digital, that may be used for learning, education or training".<ref>{{Harvnb|Learning Technology Standards Committee|2002|p=45}}</ref> More specifically, and pointing out the extreme breadth of the IEEE's definition, Wiley describes a learning object as "any ''digital'' resource that can be ''re''used to support learning".<ref>{{Harvnb|Wiley|2000|p=7}}. Emphasis added.</ref> The following definitions focus on the relation between learning object and digital media. RLO-CETL, a British inter-university Learning Objects Center, defines "reusable learning objects" as "web-based interactive chunks of e-learning designed to explain a stand-alone learning objective".<ref>{{citation|chapter= FAQs|url=http://www.rlo-cetl.ac.uk/faqs.htm|title=RLO-CETL: Reusable Learning Objects|accessdate=2008-04-29}}.</ref> Daniel Rehak and Robin Mason define it as "a digitized entity which can be used, reused or referenced during technology supported learning".<ref>{{Harvnb|Rehak|Mason|2003|p=??}}</ref> Adapting a definition from the Wisconsin Online Resource Center, Robert J. Beck suggests that learning objects have the following key characteristics: <blockquote>*Learning objects are a new way of thinking about learning content. Traditionally, content comes in a several hour chunk. Learning objects are much smaller units of learning, typically ranging from 2 minutes to 15 minutes.<br /> * Are self-contained – each learning object can be taken independently<br /> * Are reusable – a single learning object may be used in multiple contexts for multiple purposes<br /> * Can be aggregated – learning objects can be grouped into larger collections of content, including traditional course structures<br /> * Are tagged with metadata – every learning object has descriptive information allowing it to be easily found by a search<ref name="beck">{{citation|last=Beck|first=Robert J.|chapter=What Are Learning Objects?|url=http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/CIE/AOP/LO_what.html | title=Learning Objects|publisher=Center for International Education, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee|accessdate=2008-04-29}}</ref></blockquote> == Components == The following is a list of some of the types of information that may be included in a learning object: * General Course Descriptive Data, including: course identifiers, language of content (English, Spanish, etc.), subject area (Maths, Reading, etc.), descriptive text, descriptive keywords * Life Cycle, including: version, status * Instructional Content, including: text, web pages, images, sound, video * Glossary of Terms, including: terms, definition, acronyms * Quizzes and Assessments, including: questions, answers * Rights, including: cost, copyrights, restrictions on Use * Relationships to Other Courses, including prerequisite courses * Educational Level, including: grade level, age range, typical learning time, and difficulty{{Fact|date=April 2008}} ==Metadata== One of the key issues in using learning objects is their identification by search engines.{{Fact|date=April 2008}} This is usually facilitated by assigning descriptive [[learning object metadata]]. Just as a book in a library has a record in the [[card catalog]], learning objects must also be tagged with metadata. ==Mutability== A mutated learning object is, according to Michael Shaw, a learning object that has been "re-purposed and/or re-engineered, changed or simply re-used in some way different from its original intended design". Shaw also introduces the term "contextual learning object", to describe a learning object that has been "designed to have specific meaning and purpose to an intended learner".<ref>{{Harvnb|Shaw|2003}}</ref> ==Portability== Before any institution invests a great deal of time and energy into building high-quality e-learning content (which can cost over $10,000 per classroom hour),{{Fact|date=February 2007}} it needs to consider how this content can be easily loaded into a [[Learning Management System]]. If all of the properties of a course can be precisely defined in a common format, the content can be serialized into a standard format such as [[XML]] and loaded into other systems. When you consider that some e-learning courses need to include video, mathematical equations using [[MathML]], chemistry equations using [[Chemical Markup Language|CML]] and other complex structures the issues become very complex, especially if the systems needs to understand and validate each structure and then place it correctly in a database.{{Fact|date=April 2008}} ==Learning object projects== Some examples of learning object projects include: *AGORA, a publicly accessible online learning environment at the [[Virtual Museum of Canada]]. Content is created and produced by Canadian museum educators.<ref>[http://www.virtualmuseum.ca/agora Learning Centre | Online Classroom | Free Lesson | Virtual Museum of Canada<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> *eduSource, a Canada-wide project to create the infrastructure for a network of inter-operable learning object repositories. The eduSource project is based on national and international standards; it is bilingual (French and English) and designed to be fully accessible.<ref>[http://www.edusource.ca eduSource Canada: Canadian Network of Learning Object Repositories<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> *MERLOT (Multimedia Educational Resource for Learning and Online Teaching), a free and open resource designed primarily for faculty and students of higher education. == See also == * [[Digital Audio Learning Objects]] ==Notes== {{reflist|2}} ==References== *{{citation|last=Learning Technology Standards Committee|title=Draft Standard for Learning Object Metadata. IEEE Standard 1484.12.1|place=New York|publisher=Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers|year=2002|url=http://ltsc.ieee.org/wg12/files/LOM_1484_12_1_v1_Final_Draft.pdf| format=PDF| accessdate=2008-04-29}}. *{{citation|last1=Rehak |first1=Daniel R.|first2=Robin |last2=Mason|chapter=Engaging with the Learning Object Economy|editor-first=Allison|editor-last=Littlejohn|title=Reusing Online Resources: A Sustainable Approach to E-Learning|place= London|publisher= Kogan Page| year=2003| pages=22-30| isbn=9780749439491}}. *{{citation|last=Shaw|first=Michael|chapter=(Contextual and Mutated) Learning Objects in the Context of Design, Learning and (Re)Use| url=http://www.shawmultimedia.com/edtech_oct_03.html|title=Teaching and Learning with Technology|year=2003|date=October, 2003|accessdate=2008-04-29}} *{{citation|last=Wiley|first=David A.|chapter=Connecting Learning Objects to Instructional Design Theory: A Definition, A Metaphor, and A Taxonomy|editor-last=Wiley|editor-first=David A.|title=The Instructional Use of Learning Objects: Online Version|url= http://reusability.org/read/chapters/wiley.doc| format=DOC|year= 2000|accessdate=2008-04-29}}. ==External links== *[http://www.ijklo.org Interdisciplinary Journal of E-Learning and Learning Objects] {{wikiversity|Introduction to Learning Objects}} [[Category:Technical communication]] [[Category:Educational technology]] [[cs:Výukový objekt]] [[de:Lernobjekt]] [[es:Objeto de aprendizaje]] [[it:Learning object]] [[pt:Objeto de aprendizagem]] [[fi:Oppimisaihio]] [[uk:Навчальний об'єкт]]