eLearning Rebel

Library Sciences + Information Sciences = Content Management

Many articles that refer to reusable learning objects normally refer to courses, lessons or pages with textual content and media assets. Media assets are reusable. Small pieces of content are also reusable. However, management of content and media assets leads to a discussion of “Content Management Systems” or “Information Systems” in the field of Library Sciences.

For example a lesson on particular topic may be considered a reusable learning object. However, a lesson with contextual content is a Shareable Content Object but not a Reusable Learning Object.

Let’s look at an example. Ben & Jerry teaches everyone how they make ice cream. I love this online tutorial. The navigation is very simple and creative. The entire piece of content was built in Flash. It’s simple and fun. However, a piece of content like this is not reusable. It is highly contextual.

So here’s the question. Can this content be reused in a different context or to support a different instructional strategy? Maybe, but with limited flexibility. Maybe if the content could be edited.

Cognitive Sciences + Computer Sciences + Library Science = Reusable Learning Objects
If we are looking to design and develop objects that support learning we need to merge “Cognitive Science” with “Computer Science” and “Library Sciences”. If we take out “Cognitive Science” out of the equation we will end up with a library of “Content Objects” but not “Learning Objects”.What benefits should we expect from Reusable Learning Objects?

• Reduce rework by allowing for re-use of designs in multiple contexts
• Reduce the need for expertise (FTEs) in programming and cognitive science by allowing a small team to design and develop reusable learning objects that all developers and instructional designers can use. A simple analogy are website development templates. With these templates and easy to use tools, a non-programmer can quickly create a very professional looking website.

What do we mean when we refer to Cognitive Sciences? It is .. “the study of intelligence and intelligent systems, with particular reference to intelligent behaviour as computation” (Simon & Kaplan, 1989) Simon, H. A. & C. A. Kaplan, “Foundations of cognitive science”, in Posner, M.I. (ed.) 1989, Foundations of Cognitive Science, MIT Press, Cambridge MA.

…. to be continued

There is a never ending argument about what Reusable Learning Objects (RLOs) are. In my opinion the folks at ADL have helped out the discussion by referring to objects in SCORM as Shareable Content Objects (SCOs). Notice that the folks at ADL referred to objects in their system as Content objects as opposed to Learning objects.

The definition of a SCO from the ADL site suggests that the size of a SCO is not important, nor is it important what is inside the SCO to make it a SCO. Basically the SCO model was built off of the (book, chapter, page, quiz) metaphor and as a result most elearning courses are based on this page turning design model.

Now of course it’s not fair to blame ADL for all the poor elearning design out there. The primary reason for poor elearning design is the fact that people jump in and post content with no thought to learning sciences. As a result we have a great deal of content out there, little of which is shareable and even less that applies learning principles.

Which brings us to the term, Reusable Learning Object. Let’s break down the phrase one word at a time. In this entry I will start by defining objects.

Object
Objects normally have either a hierarchy (like a description of the animal kingdom) or are an assembly of parts (like a motor).

So lets first look at an example of an animal, the cuddly Panda Bear. Pandas are animals. They belong to the animal kingdom and share attributes of all other animals.

Animals::
All members of the animal kingdom are multicellular (made up of many cells) and are heterotrophic (get their nourishment by eating other organisms). All animals require oxygen for their metabolism.

However Pandas are also part of the class of animals known as Mammals. Mammals have attributes that other types of animals do not have.

Mammals (Class):
All mammals have hair, are able to regulate their body temperature, and females can produce milk.

Finally, Pandas are a special type of mammal. They are bears which is a sub-class of mammal and all bears have unique attributes that all other mammals do not have.

Ursidae (Bears) (Sub-Class)
Members of the bear family have five toes on each foot and some can walk upright for short distances. Bears are intelligent animals with a great sense of smell.

Ok so all you computer programmers out there should be getting this by now. In object oriented programming we use Packages, Classes and Sub-Classes to develop programming Objects. And guess what, …. programming Objects are Reusable.

to be continued …