Learning Objects: Designing

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Learning ObjectsDesigning RepurposingAn
Introduction
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WHAT WE WILL COVER IN THIS WORKSHOP

• definitions of learning object and
  repurposing in the context of e-learning
• planning the design of a learning object using a
  template
• developing a storyboard as part of the planning
  process
• pedagogical and presentational factors to
  consider when developing a learning object

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WHAT IS A LEARNING OBJECT ?

• Any entity, digital or non-digital, that may be
  used for learning, education or training (IEEE)
• A learning object is any resource or content
  object that is supplied to a learner by a
  provider with the intention of meeting the
  learners learning objective(s).and is used by
  the learner to meet that learning objective(s)

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WHAT IS A LEARNING OBJECT ?

• Raw material or information object (digital
  asset)
• Picture of Mona Lisa from the web
• Contextualise (content object)
• By exploring da Vincis use of colour or
  the emerging place of landscape within
  art
• Learning object

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SOME DEFINITIONS

• A digital asset is an electronic resource such as
  a scanned picture, a video or audio clip, or a
  web page. It does not have a learning objective.
• A content object may be constructed from one or
  more digital assets. It is instructional,
  self-contained, with one or more learning
  objectives, and can be managed, delivered,
  assessed and monitored face-to-face or through a
  VLE.
• A learning object demands three components
• Example from Ferl website

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LEARNING OBJECTS

• break down content into elements of learning that
  can be very small in terms of duration and enable
  progression through an ordered programme.
• can be grouped together into longer lessons,
  classes, sessions etc
• free the teacher to employ them in whatever they
  judge to be the most appropriate way
• whole class teaching through a whiteboard or data
  projector
• group work around a single computer
• supported individual learning over the VLE or
  remote access from home

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LEARNING OBJECTS

• The concept of a learning object is at the heart
  of the development of e-learning
• The most important aspect of learning objects is
  that they take the control of e-learning activity
  out of the hands of the materials publishers and
  put it firmly back into the hands of learners and
  teachers

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RE-PURPOSING?

• Altering a Learning Object and using it in a
  different context to achieve a different learning
  objective from that of the original creator

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CHANGING SEQUENCE OF PAGES
Original sequence
New sequence
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REMOVING / ADDING PAGES
Original learning object
New learning object
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Why repurpose ?
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TUTOR DRIVEN

• Maximise resources makes sharing easy
• Economy of Time saves reinventing the wheel
• Allows transfer between different learning
  platforms
• Creation of differentiated and personalised
  resources
• Allows convenient storage in a repository

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LEARNER DRIVEN

• Appropriate levels
• Individualised learning programmes
• Learning styles
• Accessibility
• Variety of materials

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ACTIVITY

• In small groups identify areas in your own
  curriculum where you could create learning
  objects that could be used in two or three, or
  more, different contexts.

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CREATING A LEARNING OBJECT

• Identify object to be developed
• Identify materials available
• Storyboarding
• Develop the object

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HOW WILL IT BE DELIVERED?

• Classroom based, face-to-face presentation
• Individual students accessing materials in
  support of classroom delivery
• Individual Students accessing materials,
  self-assessments and assessments
• Small groups accessing a topic and working
  through it together, discussing the materials
  (but not using the VLE to record the discussions)
• through your VLE or using VLE based discussions
• Learning Resource Centre based usage
• on paper
• on the web
• Remote use by students in the workplace/home

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RESOURCING MATERIALS

• Use existing materials?
• Create new materials?
• Assess learning?

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MAKING YOUR LEARNING OBJECT REUSABLE

• it should be context free
• provide any context you need for your learners
  around the learning object
• it should be based on well-defined learning
  objectives
• the learning objectives should cover what you
  want to cover as part of your course, but not
  mention the course itself

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ACTIVITY

• Creating Your Learning Object
• Complete the template which covers all the things
  you need to consider when deciding to develop a
  learning object/package. Specifically, Part 1 of
  the form will help you define your objectives.
  Part 2 of the form will help you think about what
  resources/learning material you may need to use.
  
• Work individually or in pairs.

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STORYBOARDING

• The storyboard should
• define in detail what will go on each page and
  the order that in which the pages will appear
• include details of any images, interactions or
  other media that will be used in each page

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STORYBOARDING

• You should
• think about what is it you want your learner to
  learn, what skills do you want them to develop?
• think about the learners attention span
• dont include too much text in the materials
• consider including a range of resource types
• plan the learning experience but allow for
  different learning styles
• think careful about the resources being used and
  make sure they have a clear purpose and add value
• provide opportunities for formative assessment
  and feedback
• More about storyboarding

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ACTIVITY

• Read the handout on storyboarding.
• Create a storyboard for your learning object,
  either individually or working in pairs.

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DEVELOPING THE LEARNING OBJECT

• Factors to consider
• Pedagogy
• Presentation

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ACTIVITY

• In small groups make a list of
• pedagogical factors
• presentational factors
• to take account of when designing your learning
  object.
• Agree the 5 most important in each category and
  report back to
• the group.

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ACTIVITY

• Developing your learning object
• Create a folder (on your network drive) for
  storing the documents you will re-use, or create,
  for your learning object.
• Referring to your completed template and
  storyboard, copy your existing documents into the
  new folder.
• Create new materials and search for useful web
  sites.
• When you have finished ask a colleague to review
  it for you.
• Good luck!

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Learning ObjectsDesigning RepurposingAn
Introduction