What is a learning object?
(Modified from The Wisconsin Online Resource Center's Definition for Learning Objects)
Learning objects are a new way of thinking about learning content. Instead of providing all of the material for an entire course or lecture, a learning object provides material for a discrete lesson or sub-lesson within a larger course.
In general, learning objects:
- Are self-contained – each learning object can be consumed independently
- Are reusable – a single learning object may potentially be used in multiple contexts for multiple purposes
- Can be aggregated – learning objects can be grouped into larger collections, allowing for their inclusion within a traditional course structure
- Are tagged with metadata – every learning object has descriptive information allowing it to be easily found by a search -- which facilitates the object being used by others.
- Learning objects allow for learning that is:
- Just enough – if you need only part of a course, you can use the learning objects you need
- Just in time – learning objects are searchable, you can instantly find and take the content you need
- Just for you – learning objects allow for easy customization of courses
Examples
The best way to understand what a learning object is, and why they matter,
is to look at examples. Our projects page show examples of work that our
Learning Object development team has developed with our faculty. We are
in the process of building a fairly comprehensive list of learning objects
developed at 11 northeast colleges as part of our NITLE grant. In the meantime,
this list is useful albeit eclectic.
Some Examples
Simulations
Architectural Virtual Reality Tour (Simulation) (Williams)
Prism Refraction Applet (Simulation)Animations
Pulsar Beacon Animation (Amherst College)
Sodium-Potassium Pump (Middlebury College)Maps
The Valley Of The Shadow (University of Virginia)
Games / Quizes
Flight To Freedom (Bowdoin College)
CBB Plagiarism Self-Test (Bates College)Other Repositories
Other Learning Objects Groups
Bowdoin
Educational Technology Center, http://academic.bowdoin.edu/etc/Sample Projects
http://academic.bowdoin.edu/etc/Columbia
EPIC, http://www.epic.columbia.edu/
Center for New Media Teaching and Learning, http://ccnmtl.columbia.edu/Sample Projects
http://ccnmtl.columbia.edu/services/showcase/bfa.htmlBrown
Scholarly Technology Group, http://www.stg.brown.edu/Sample Projects
http://www.stg.brown.edu/projects/indexcard/displaycard.php3?card=33University of Virginia
Institute for Advanced Technology in the Humanities, http://www.iath.virginia.edu/Sample Projects
http://jefferson.village.virginia.edu/vshadow2/MAPDEMO/theaterintro.htmlNorthwestern
New Media Center, http://nmc.northwestern.edu/Sample Projects
http://www.chicagohs.org/fire/intro/Georgetown
Center for New Designs in Learning & Scholarship, http://candles.georgetown.edu/