Learning Object
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What is an Learning Object (LO)?
A learning object is a resource, usually digital and web-based, that can be used and re-used to support learning. There are various definitions of the term.
Link to the eContent Video on vimeo.
Basic Information
Blended Learning
Optimal combination of conventional presence lessons and eLearning.
The Austrian educational system integrated eLearning into the official curricula in 1998 and supported the establishment of laptop classes and computer-aided teaching since that time in numerous initiatives and activities.
Notebook Classes / Laptop classes
Laptop classes were launched in Austrian schools at the same time as eLearning was introduced into the school curriculum. There is more to the strategy of laptop classes than every pupil owning his / her own laptop (notebook). It required new forms of teaching strategies to be developed involving collaborative, mixed modal and individula learning as well as utilising computing resources and applying them in an eLearning environment. Numerous initiatives such as school book publishers´ “SbX” - program or the project “eContent development”, regulated by the "Content guidelines" and supported by the Ministry of Education, gave strong support to the field of eLearning.
Digital teaching and learning materials
The structure and nature of digital teaching and learning materials can vary due to the heterogeneous characteristics of the new media resources. Hence, they are defined by the amount of information they communicate.
Definitions
Asset
The smallest, indivisible digital unit for information transfer, e.g. a picture or a short text, a plain picture/text combination or a small and simple animation.
Learning Object
A learning object consists of several learning assets that are structured in a pedagocially meaningful way. It is important that a learning module is a unit that can stand by itself e..g. is representing a self-contained unit. All important elements have to be implemented: motivation about the importance of the content, content and learning directions, feedback function and/or self-assessment.
It is information that a curriculum topic be organised as a worksheet, an image or a draft with explanations or a small link collection. Example: A worksheet with the explanation about a physical effect, a worksheet to learn a language using the software „Hot Potatoes“, an interactive site with a java applets about the term „function“, two webquests about the basics of electrical engineering with feedback function.
In respect to media, form or format of a learning object the following examples are given as a guide:
- a web lesson using a standard authoring system;
- interactive tests and electronic assessments ;
- special learning module (educational game, map exercise, simulations),
- webquests, containing curriculum related questions and work assignments.
Learning Module
A learning module consists of learning objects organised around a pedagogical concept (didactically structured, including motivational aspects, presentation of content, small knowledge tests and self assessment). It is important that the learning unit is self-contained in regard to the topic. A learning unit or lesson must contain a wide range of technologies, the motivation about the importance of the topic, the lesson itself as well as feedback functions and self-assessment.
Learning Unit Examples: the presentation about an entire topic in physics (or a physical effect) with several worksheets, an explanation about English history including typical grammar forms, an extensive presentation on „linear and exponential functions “, a lesson with several webquests about the „current alternating power“.
Learning Unit
A learning unit (corresponding to a teaching unit) consist of e-learning modules and combines those with a pedagocical framework and hints for class organisation in a blended learning format (defined as combination of conventional face-to-face teaching and eLearning). Timewise it is designed for one or two learning units.
Course
Learning units develop into courses or in the context corresponding to eLearning Cluster Projects teaching unit sequencies. These courses allow school classes to engage with and learn the prepared material for longer periods from 3 to 4 weeks to one semester using the supportive electronic learning material. These courses include materials of diverse format, individual learning of students and various forms of homework and assessment.
Quality Criteria of eContent
1. correctness
The contents of the learning materials and modules are technically correct and correspond to the latest scientific findings.
2. structured
The structure of those learning materials is clear and modular and obvious for the pupil/student.
3. emotional
The pupil/student is addressed and motivated to begin and continue the work with the module.
4. adaptive
It is intended that pupils/students with different previous knowledge, interests and abilities can approach the learning materials
5. interactive
Interactive possibilities of the new media are used.
6. communicative
eLearning does not always mean learning individually. The learning materials have to motivate communication and cooperation between the pupils/students.
7. reflexive
The learning materials contain exercises and quiz possibilities intended to show the pupils/students their weak points and knowledge gaps
8. explorative
Explorative/detecting learning is preferred to specified factual knowledge
9. standardized
The learning materials correspond to the IMS standard and can be integrated in learning platforms with full functionality.
10. legal requirements
The learning materials contain all necessary formal elements (author, imprint, etc.). Integrated text, pictures, sound-files or videos meet the standards of copyrights or other regulations. Means to meet these standards are the agreement of the author, correct quoting and referring to the data origin.
References
- Interactive Science Simulations (University of Colorado at Boulder), http://phet.colorado.edu
- Try Science, http://www.tryscience.org
- David Wiley's free online book (2001), http://www.reusability.org/read/
- Learning Object Metadata: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Learning_object_metadata
Contributors
Source BMUKK; adapted by Ruth SATTLER (e-teaching-austria)
