Using Learning Objects to Enhance Students Learning

Restiani Andriati (DMP)

Beth Swart (LTO, FCS Nursing)

Agenda

• What is a Learning Object?

• Where to get learning objects?

• How to incorporate it into a course?– Examples

• Who can help?

Scenario

• Instructor teaches the same material year after year

• Each year, most students encounter the same difficult concepts: – Instructional bottleneck– Instruction challenge

What is Learning Object?

• Definition:

Learning Objects are any digital entity designed to meet a specific learning outcome that can be re-used to support learning

http://learnware.uwaterloo.ca/projects/CCCO/cloe_about.html

• Brief description:– Computer program (web-based, CD-ROM)– Interactive

Characteristics

• Reusable: easily modified with different development tools

• Accessible: searchable and available as needed for learners and content developers

• Interoperable: capable of operating across a range of hardware, operating systems and web browsers

• Durable: compatible with newer versions of system software

Where to Get Learning Objects?

CLOE – Co-operative Learning Object Exchangehttp://cloe.on.ca/

MERLOT – Multimedia Educational Resource for Learning and Online Teachinghttp://www.merlot.org/

Develop it – with the help of the DMPTechnology & Teaching Projects:http://www.ryerson.ca/dmp/instructionaltech/atRyerson/projects.html#teachtech

Note: Learning Objects in the L.O. repositories CLOE and MERLOT, are peer-reviewed.

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3.

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Using Learning Objects in a Course

• Optional does not work

• Extra work not necessarily beneficial

• Must be integral to course design

• Ideally, it helps students achieve the learning outcome(s)

EXAMPLE: Critical Thinking • http://www.contracosta.edu/courses/Nursing21

0/PharmReview/critthink_situationtom.htm

Animated Example

• http://www.whfreeman.com/thelifewire6e/content/ch19/ch19xe04.htm

Conflict Situation

• http://de.ryerson.ca/lo/nurses/animation.asp

Example: Instructional

• http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/olcweb/cgi/pluginpop.cgi?it=swf::535::535::/sites/dl/free/0072437316/120067/bio01.swf::Lysosomes

Drag and Drop

• http://de.ryerson.ca/lo/dragndrop/

Wisconsin Resource Centre

• http://www.wisc-online.com/released.asp

Who can Help?

• Digital Media Projects Officehttp://www.ryerson.ca/dmp/

• Learning Technology Liaisonshttp://www.ryerson.ca/ltl

For more information …

– Canadian Journal of Learning and Technology - Special edition Fall 2002 on Learning Objects

• http://www.cjlt.ca/content/vol28.3/

– Learning Objects Overview• http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/CIE/AOP/

learningobjects.html

– Use and Abuse of Learning Objects• http://jodi.ecs.soton.ac.uk/Articles/v03/i04/Polsani/