What is Learning Objects

Any entity, digital or non-digital, which can be used, re-used or referenced during technology supported learning. Examples of such instruction include computer-based training systems, Interactive learning environments, intelligent computer-aided instruction systems, distance learning systems, and collaborative learning environments. Examples of Learning Objects include multimedia content, instructional content, learning objectives, instructional software and software tools, and persons, organizations, or events referenced during technology-supported learning. As the vast social network resources bring to surface billions of such ontologies, this chapter narrows this scope to the digital resources, irrelevant of their size, which can be reused to support learning. Usually they are delivered across the Web or similar networks on demand. Examples of smaller reusable digital resources include digital images or photos, live data feeds (like stock tickers), live or pre-recorded video or audio snippets, small bits of text, animations, and smaller web-delivered applications, like a Java calculator. Examples of larger reusable digital resources include entire web pages that combine text, images and other media or applications to deliver complete experiences, such as a complete instructional event.

Any reproducible and addressable digital or non-digital resource used to perform learning activities or support activities. Examples are: web pages, text books, text processors, instruments, etc.

A set of such media components, instructional activities, or whole lessons, labeled with metadata and expressed in a standard format.

Small digital units of learning that can be reused and are tagged with metadata.

Multimodal resources that provide different inputs to students, contributing to meaningful learning.

A reusable unit of instructions for distance learning where the presentation is normally separated from its content, thus allowing content reuse.

Self-contained modules that can be incorporated into training to aid teaching or learning.

This is learning material of different granularity that is used to form part of the content delivered in a learning course or module. Learning objects can be of many types, including Word or PowerPoint documents, tests, multimedia presentations, animations, sound clips, or video clips.

A unit with a learning objective, together with digital and independent capabilities containing one or a few related ideas and accessible through metadata to be reused in different contexts and platforms.

Any digital resource that can be reused to support learning.

They could be defined as resources that instructors make use of in order to facilitate learning. In an online learning environment the instructor would make use of technological resources such as YouTube videos, Podcasts to list a few, which are readily available in the web. It is worthwhile to mention that the learning objects can be integrated with other tools in a blended learning environment.

As described in the metadata draft standard for learning objects is any entity, digital or non-digital, that may be used for learning, education or training..IEEE, http://ltsc.ieee.org/wg12/files/LOM_1484_12_1_v1_Final_Draft.pdf, last accessed on 12-15-06.

Learning objects are a digital resource that can be reused to support and enhance learning.

Modular and portable unit of instructional content that contains content, activities and an assessment.

Learning objects are focused, concise learning modules that can be deployed in various combinations to provide a body of knowledge.

A learning object is viewed in this chapter as “the minimum, meaningful pedagogical unit required to achieve a learning goal or objective.”

Learning objects are reusable digital assets that can be employed to advance teaching and learning.

Interactive computer-based exercises in which a student utilizes critical thinking skills, achieves learning benchmarks, and displays mastery of content.

A digitized entity which can be used, reused, or referenced during technology supported learning.

A self-contained resource, usually digital, that can be used and repurposed in support of learning.

Self-contained modules that can be incorporated into training to aid teaching or learning.

A small instructional component that can be reused a number of times in different learning contexts.

“Any entity, digital or non-digital, which can be used, re-used or referenced during technology supported learning” (IEEE, 2005).

Small (relative to the size of an entire course) instructional components that can be reused in different learning contexts. Learning objects are generally considered to be digital materials deliverable over the Internet.

Available information (usually on the Web) that is reusable and applicable to many different learning contexts.

focused, concise learning modules that can be deployed in various combinations to provide a body of knowledge

Digital resources, modular in nature, that are used to support learning. They include but are not limited to simulations, electronic calculators, animations, tutorials, text entries, Web sites, bibliographies, audio and video clips, quizzes, photographs, illustrations, diagrams, graphs, maps, charts, and assessments. They vary in size, scope, and level of granularity, ranging from a small chunk of instruction to a series of resources combined to provide a more complex learning experience (National Learning Infrastructure Initiative, 2003).

Defined as any entity—digital or nondigital—that may be used, reused, or referenced for learning, education, or training. Examples of learning objects include multimedia content, instructional content, learning objectives, instructional software and software tools, and persons, organizations, or events referenced during technology-supported learning.

Bodies of digital material specifically designed to engage and motivate student learning. Each learning object has a learning objective, content, and activities that support the objective and assessment activities that reflect that expectation; they usually take less than 15 minutes to complete; the content is metatagged to some set of standards; and the object can exist on its own and be provided to the learner in a just-in-time and as-needed fashion.

Focused, concise learning modules that can be deployed in various combinations to provide a body of knowledge.

Digital multimedia learning resources that combine text, images, and other media, are intended for re-use across educational settings, typically require a few minutes to perhaps an hour of a learner’s time for initial study, and usually focus on one topic or a small set of closely related elements, which could then be integrated with other objects and activities in a particular teaching context to form a full course

Self-contained, reusable small units of learning that can be aggregated and tagged with metadata.

Basic educational tools that can be adapted to a variety of learning environments.

A reusable, media-independent collection of information used as a modular building block for e-learning content (Learning Circuits, 2006).