Learning Objects for Web Based and WebEnhanced Instruction

Learning Objects for Web. Based and Web-Enhanced Instruction Mike Cipriani

First, Some Background… What’s the difference between Web-based instruction involvesweb-based and web-enhanced instruction? educational activities that take place exclusively via computerized course delivery, generally through the internet. Web-enhanced instruction is when classroom activities use computers, again generally the internet, to augment the learning process.

Three Important Definitions related to Web. Based & Web-Enhanced Instruction Information = material communicated through a flow of messages to a learner Instruction = information that is deliberately sequenced to create a learning opportunity Learning = the cognitive processing of information by the learner

Web sites use Information and Instruction to stimulate learning Web sites deliver information, instruction and learning by using learning objects

What is a Learning Object? The Learning Technology Standards Committee says: "[A]ny entity, digital or non-digital, that may be used for learning, education or training” For our purposes, this definition is too… We need something more specific….

For This Context, What is a Learning Object? We will use Wiley’s definition: “Any digital resource that can be reused to support learning” Key Words in Wiley’s Definition: Digital = available in electronic form; readable and manipulable by computer. Reused = use again after processing Thus, we are narrowing our working definition of Learning Objects to those used in webbased & web-enhanced instruction.

Five Types of Learning Objects Fundamental Combined-Closed Combined-Open Generative-Presentation Generative-Instructional

Fundamental An individual digital resource, usually a visual aid that conveys information Example: A diagram of the internal parts of a computer http: //www. discount-computersnow. com/images/build-your-own-computerpic. jpg

Combined-Closed A small number of digital resources combined with a single purpose and whose individual elements are not reusable from the object itself Example: A video explaining how to install an IDE internal hard drive http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=bt 7 ve 7 Ie. A GE

Combined-Open A large number of digital resources combined for a purpose whose elements are reusable as separate learning objects Example: An informational web page http: //history. sandiego. edu/GEN/recording/co mputer 1. html

Generative-Presentation A combination of learning objects in a specific structure that generates a presentation for instruction or reference Example: A page of links to tutorials that together teach the Java programming language http: //java. sun. com/docs/books/tutorial/

Generative-Instructional A combination of learning objects in a specific structure that generates an abstract instructional strategy and means to assess it Example: A tutorial with interactive practice and quizzes for learning HTML http: //www. w 3 schools. com/html/

References & Additional Info. http: //opencontent. org/wiki/index. php? title=Learning_Object_Metaph ors http: //www. eurodl. org/materials/contrib/2005/Santally. htm http: //www. minddrops. com/Talks/innovations 2002 boston. htm http: //opencontent. org/docs/lo_do. pdf http: //www. reusability. org/read/#1 http: //technologysource. org/article/preparing_teachers_to_use_learn ing_objects/ http: //www. uwm. edu/Dept/CIE/AOP/LO_what. html Grabowski, B. and Small, R. (1997). "Information, Instruction and Learning: A Hypermedia Perspective". Performance Improvement Quarterly, 10(1), pp. 156 -166