Learning object

Definition

• Learning objects are reusable learning objects

• Small (relative to the size of an entire course) instructional components that can be reused a number of times in different learning contexts.

• “digital entities deliverable over the internet” (Wiley, 2000, p.3)

Open Issues

"The purpose of learning objects and their reality seem to be at odds with one another. On the one hand, the smaller designers create their learning objects, the more reusable those objects will be. On the other hand, the smaller learning objects are, the more likely it is that only humans will be able to assemble them into meaningful instruction. From the traditional instruction point of view, the higher-level reusability of small objects does not scale well to large numbers of students (i.e., it requires teachers or instructional designers to intervene), meaning that the supposed economic advantage of reusable learning objects has evaporated. " ([1])

Learning Object Repositories

In the case of digital learning resources, there are many problems to be overcome before we can expect widespread reuse and sharing. Learning tends to be highly contextual, and context is not as easy to disseminate as data alone. (Learning )

• http://www.merlot.org/ (specialized in microworlds)
• la main à la pate
• Ariadne

Links

• http://www.reusability.org/read/ (on line book)
• http://ijklo.org/ (This is an open content on-line journal)
• http://learningobjects.org/ (Portal with advice, good links for articles, etc.)

References

• Wiley, David A. (2000). Connecting learning objects to instructional design theory: A definition, a metaphor, and a taxonomy. In D.A. Wiley (Ed.). The Instructional Use of Learning Objects [on-line]. Available: http://reusability.org/ read/.