Learning object

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A learning object (from English learning object ; also LO , educational object , instructional object or the like) should be the smallest meaningful learning unit into which an online learning offer can be broken down. However, this definition is very controversial. It is attributed to Wayne Hodgins, who in 1994 gave a working group of the Computer Education Management Association the name “Learning Architectures, APIs and Learning Objects” for the following reason:

All Lego blocks adhere to one absolute standard for pin size. Every LEGO piece, no matter what shape, color, size, age, or purpose can always be snapped together with any other piece because of their uniformly shaped pins. This allows children of all ages to create, deconstruct, and reconstruct LEGO structures easily and into most any form they can imagine.
If we map this to the world of learning content, we start to see the opportunities that would result if we were able to have the same standards and capabilities to reuse and assemble or disassemble content drawn from any source at any time.

Some understand a learning object to be brief information such as a single picture, a graphic, a text or text modules or an animation. Without additional information (so-called metadata ) that should describe how the learning object is to be used, for which target group, and so on, such objects cannot be reused and the actual goal that was pursued when the learning object was created is unclear. Therefore, particularly powerful management systems are required, such as B. the latest generations of component content management systems .

As for books in a library catalog, there is also descriptive information (metadata) for learning objects. The discussion of what should be included in such a description and efforts to standardize it are currently ongoing. More at: Learning Objects Metadata .

Learning objects are resources that are arranged in a didactically sensible way and are intended to support learning processes. Learning objects are often organized and managed in a learning management system (LMS) or learning content management system (LCMS), a digital platform that combines the functions of a course system with those of a content management system . It should be noted that didactics and pedagogy are not limited to the delivery of resources, but that learning arises in a discursive exchange between people, for example teachers and learners or learners among themselves. Many LMS (for example ILIAS , moodle , OLAT and OpenOLAT ) respond to this requirement.

Ideally, learning objects should be self-contained so that they can be reused in different contexts. This is called a Reusable Learning Object (RLO). Although much has been written about the fact that this is desirable, so far there is only specific literature (see below) that documents sensible, actual recycling.

In 2003, Pithamber R. Polsani compiled three central technical properties that the smallest symbolic unit for e-learning content has to fulfill (for general requirements, see content management system ):

  • Accessibility to the objects via the LMS, if necessary with support from information retrieval
  • Re-use (reusability) through the lowest possible contextual connection
  • Compatibility (interoperability) through platform-independent usability in various applications

literature

  • N. Friesen: Three Objections to Learning Objects. Online Education Using Learning Objects . In: R. McGreal (Ed.): Online Education Using Learning Objects . RoutledgeFalmer, London 2004, ISBN 0-415-33512-4 , pp. 59-70 ( abstract )
  • Dreusicke, Michael: Instructions for authors (Instructions for creating dynamic online texts from reusable learning objects (RLOs))
  • Baumgartner, P., Kalz, M .: Reuse of learning objects from a didactic point of view. In: Off to new shores! E-learning today and tomorrow. Ed .: D. Tavangarian and K. Nölting. New York - Munich - Berlin, Waxmann. Media in Science: Vol. 34: 97-106.
  • Weitl et al .: Context aware Reuse of Learning, In: Proceedings of ED-MEDIA 2004, World Conference on Educational Multimedia, Hypermedia & Telecommunications, Lugano, Switzerland, 2004 ( Paper ). Accessed August 10, 2008

Web links