Learning Objects: Study Tools for Any Classroom

1
Learning Objects Study Tools for Any Classroom

• Information compiled by Shannon Phillips
• Based off of presentations made by
• Wisconsin Online and Leila Gonzalez Sullivan
• at the November 2001
• League for Innovations Conference

2
What are Learning Objects?

•  Learning objects are chunks of lectures . . .
  a single concept, process or cluster of related
  items . . . that are placed in multimedia-rich
  environments to maximize the use of the material,
  address different learning styles, and change the
  passive environment, in which most of us deliver
  our material, into an active learning
  environment.
• Leila Gonzalez Sullivan, the College Board,
  League for Innovation Presentation, November 15,
  2001.

3
What to do with a Learning Object . . .

• By using Macromedia Flash, Macromedia Director,
  Tegrity, FrontPage or another web editor, an
  instructor can
• take a chunk of a lecture (how to cite a direct
  quote or how to use a calculator for trigonometry
  class),
• allow the students to read material next to an
  object on the screen, and
• click the object to interact with it.

4
Independent Repetition

• Pre-tests,
• presentations, or
• sections of lectures
• can be chunked into learning objects in order to
  offer students repetition outside of the usually
  scheduled class time.

5
Examples

• Male or Female? Gender and Communication
  Tendencies
• Interactive matching-like environment
• Sources of Governmental Power
• Content with an interactive quiz
• Construction of the Cell Membrane
• Animations
• Exploring the Realities of Life as a Refugee
• Questions to respond to for class (traditional or
  online)
• Symbolism
• Brief audio lecture online
• For examples of effectively built learning
  objects, go to Wisconsin Online
  (http//www.wisc-online.com) and click into your
  discipline area.

6
Brainstorming

• Think about the content you deliver that students
  have a tough time understanding.
• Do you normally provide lecture or handouts?
• What visuals do you use?
• Is it a difficult topic that they will need to
  see represented multiple ways?
• What are some alternative ways of presenting that
  material?
• Ask a colleague how they present the material or
  surf the Internet to see if you can find
  alternative presentations of the material.
• Perform a classroom assessment if a suitable
  topic cannot be found.

7
Create an Outline

•  The first step to narrowing a lecture into a
  learning object is to outline the lecture.
• What are the main sections of that lecture?
• How long do you speak when giving the lectures?
• If any of the sections take longer than 15-20
  minutes, think about what must be stated and how
  you might break the lecture down into 15-20
  minute segments. Shorter segments are acceptable,
  too.

8
Assessment Methods

•  Next, think about how to assess the information
  presented.
• Do you give pop quizzes?
• Do you have the students outline the information?
  
• Do they write in-class essays?
• Build those assessments into the learning
  object to form portions of the content.

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Should it be Graded?

• Do you include the results of in-class
  assessments as a part of the final grade?
• Will the student use the learning object without
  a grade?
• Is the purpose to provide credit or to represent
  the material in a student-centered manner?
• If a grade needs to be included, a recording
  method will need to be considered.

10
Create the Content

• If you are going to use audio to deliver the
  content, create a script from which to speak.
• Type and save all contentaudio scripts and
  visual contentin a Word document so that it can
  be quickly copied and pasted into the media
  environment in which it will be presented.

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How do I Make It?!?

• Beginning to Intermediate Tech Skills
• FrontPage and other HTML editors
• PowerPoint (with or without audio)
• Video presentation
• High Tech Skills
• Flash
• Director

12
The Center can help . . .

• Request Learning Object worksheets from the
  Center to outline a plan.
• Call the Center (439) to set up an appointment
  with a media developer.
• Bring a photocopy of the learning objects
  worksheets and the content and pictures on disk
  to the meeting.
• Allow a minimum of 2 weeks for media development.