Reusable Learning Objects
Christinger Tomer
University of Pittsburgh
October 19, 2013
Library 2.013
Today’s Agenda
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Definitions and Basic Concepts
Current Constraints
Tools & Workflows
Opportunities
The literature on reusable learning objects often assumes that a main purpose of
the RLO is sharing; hence, there has been a considerable emphasis on
standardization of metadata and related profiles. In this presentation, however,
the concerns are ultimately more prosaic, inasmuch as it focuses mainly on
issues related to creating learning objects capable of supporting ongoing use
within a limited pedagogical setting.
Definition of Learning Objects
A learning object is "a collection of content items, practice
items, and assessment items that are combined based on
a single learning objective". In the modern context, it is a
digital, self-contained and reusable entity, with a clear
educational purpose, with at least three internal and
editable components: content, learning activities and
elements of context. The learning objects must have an
external structure of information to facilitate their
identification, storage and retrieval: the metadata."
From Andres Chiappe, et al., (2007), "Toward an instructional design model based on learning
objects", in Boston, Springer, Educational Technology Research and Development, Boston:
Springer, pp. 671–681.
Learning Objects, Part 2
Learning objects have the following key characteristics:
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Learning objects are much smaller units of learning, typically
ranging from 2-15 minutes;
Are self-contained – each learning object can be taken
independently;
Are reusable – a single learning object may be used in multiple
contexts for multiple purposes;
Can be aggregated into larger collections of content, including
traditional course structures; and
Are tagged with metadata – descriptive information allowing it to
be easily found by a search
Reusable Learning Objects
RLO-CETL in the U.K. defines "reusable learning objects"
as "web-based interactive chunks of e-learning designed
to explain a stand-alone learning objective,” whereas
Rehak and Mason define it somewhat more simply as "a
digitized entity which can be used, reused or referenced
during technology supported learning.”
(See Daniel Rehak and Robin Mason, (2003), "Engaging with the Learning
Object Economy", in Littlejohn, Allison, Reusing Online Resources: A
Sustainable Approach to E-Learning, London: Kogan Page, pp. 22–30.)
Generative Learning Objects (GLOs)
A generative learning object (GLO) may be defined as “An articulated and executable learning design
that produces a class of learning objects.” The representation in a GLO is articulated in two distinct
ways:
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The first form relates to human understanding. A GLO articulates and renders explicit (the often
implicit) decisions involved in design for learning, using a form of representation borrowed and
adapted from generative linguistics.
The second form of articulation is rendering explicit these decisions in a way that can be
executed by computer software to produce learning objects based on the design.
In practice, the pedagogical designs are represented as ‘plug-in’ patterns that can be used to create
specific learning objects based on the chosen pattern. Learning objects developed in this way can be
re-purposed by local tutors or learners and adapted to local needs and preferences.
There are three major requirements for developing GLOs:
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The elicitation of reusable designs for learning
Representing these patterns in a form that can be embedded in an authoring tool
Incorporating the pattern in the tool in a way that is accessible and attractive to users.
GLO Maker
Uses Adobe Air as the basis
of the application and Flash
as the primary form of output.
Shareable Content Object Reference Model
Sharable Content Object Reference Model (SCORM) is a set of standards and
specifications for Web-based e-learning. SCORM defines XML-based
communications between client side content and a run-time environment on
host system, which is presumably a learning management system. SCORM
also defines how content may be packaged into a transferable ZIP file called
"Package Interchange Format.” SCORM was developed by the U.S. Dept. of
Defense’s Advanced Distributed Learning (ADL) Initiative. SCORM 2004 uses
sequencing, which is in this instance a set of rules that specify the order in
which a learner experiences content objects. Sequencing limits a learner to a
fixed set of paths through the material at issue in order to ensure continuity and
putatively higher test scores.
Example of a GLO Maker Project
Although they are not
SCORM-compliant,
generative learning objects
are similarly based to a
significant extent on the
idea of sequencing.
Value of Reusable Learning Objects
● Utilization in other pedagogical settings
● Continuing use in the setting for which the object was
designed and/or other settings
In each instance, a key factor in the reuse of the learning
object is the ability to modify the object for the purposes
of adapting it to a specific setting and/or updating.
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Evidence that RLOs increase learning effectiveness
See Richard J. Windle, et al. The characteristics of reusable learning objects
that enhance learning. British Journal of Educational Technology 42 (2011):
811-823.
Why Are RLOs Underutilized?
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Absence of Appropriate Tools: Most instructors do not and/or have
not been trained to use the appropriate tools
Efforts to standardize the presentation of learning content have
been of limited effectiveness and generally aimed at creating
metadata at the course and/or modular levels
Lack of Infrastructure: Learning management systems do not offer
adequate support
Most instructors pursue efficiencies in design and delivery on an ad
hoc basis and/or are able to tolerate gross inefficiencies owing to
the support of graduate/teaching assistants
RLO Workflow
Creating Reusable Learning Objects
Applying Principles of Object-Oriented
Programming to the Creation of Learning
Objects
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Inheritance is a way to establish an “Is-a” relationships between
objects. In classical inheritance where objects are defined by
classes, classes can inherit attributes and behavior from preexisting classes called parent classes.
Association defines a structural relationship between classes of
objects that allows one object instance to cause another to perform
an action on its behalf.
Abstraction is the process by which data and programs are
defined with a representation similar in form to its meaning, while
hiding implementation details, so that the programmer can focus on
a few concepts at a time.
Polymorphism is the provision of a single interface to entities of
different types
The Tools You Need
• Utility Generating Polymorphic
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Templates for Multimedia
Presentations
HTML/CSS Editor
Image Capture Utility/Editor
Audio Recorder/Editor
Screencast Recorder/Editor
Multimedia Presentations
Creating reusable learning objects depends on access to and an
ability to use effectively a presentation tools that supports the
sequential presentation of instructional materials in various formats
and combinations. In the instance of GLO Maker, the designers
have opted for Adobe Air as the basis for a custom application, and
while that choice has some virtues, it also has many limitations,
including what is most likely to be the declining role of Flash as a
multimedia technology. Much better choices are to be found in a
class of utilities that were originally developed in order to support
the creation, distribution, and maintenance of computer
documentation.
The primary market for Screensteps is the production of online documentation, but it is also well suited to the creation
of learning objects with varying degrees of granularity and interconnectedness. Looking to the future, ScreenSteps is
slated to become a Web-based, subscription service, with its current standalone functionality to be assumed by an
application known as Clarify.
Screensteps (and Similar Tools)
ScreenSteps Applications
ScreenSteps may be used as a basis for the development of multimedia instruction that can be
delivered in several different formats, including HTML, PDF, and WordPress, and while it is typically
easier to manipulate content through the default interface, it is not difficult to edit exported versions of
ScreenSteps lessons and manuals, nor is it hard to amend lessons and/or manuals through the
insertion of third-party materials.
Excerpt from a ScreenSteps Lesson
ScreenSteps Manual
The ability to build manuals within
ScreenSteps allows a designer to take a
series of lessons and incorporate them into
a larger and ordered presentation, which
may also include links to other, external
resources, such as Web sites, quizzes,
readings, etc. In this example, the manual
incorporated lessons that had been
developed in support of a course on
information technology required of students
in a graduate program in library and
information science.
MacSnapper
Sample Lesson under MacSnapper
Steps
Image Capture & Annotation
Image Capture and Annotation
There are a wide variety of
image capture tools
available, but SnagIt, which
is depicted here, is
particularly well suited to
general use and reuse.
Recording and Editing Audio
There are many audio recorders and editors, but in most instances what is
needed is an editor that supports precise editing and simple modulation of
sounds and/or whole recordings. Audacity, which is free, and Fission,
which costs about $30, are two excellent options. For users with more
sophisticated requirements and access to Adobe Creative Cloud, there is
Adobe Audition.
Creating and Editing Audio Recordings with Audacity
Editing Audio Files with Fission
HTML Editors
Dreamweaver and Other HTML Editors
Dreamweaver is clearly the
best general purpose tool
for creating and/or
managing HTML and CSS
files. However, the new
subscription system put in
place by Adobe presents a
formidable barrier to entry
for instructors whose parent
institution does not procure
a site license for Adobe
Creative Cloud.
Aptana Studio 3
There are many other excellent HTML editors, and many of them are
relatively inexpensive. However, one of the best is Aptana Studio,
which is available free of charge, and provides a highly effective
development environment for HTML, CSS, JavaScript, PHP, and Ruby
on Rails.
Screencasting and Video Editing
Camtasia
Adobe Presenter Video Express
Adapting PowerPoint Presentations for Use
as RLOs
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Adobe Captivate
Adobe Presenter
Articulate Studio 13
Google Slides
Libre Office Presentation
Prezi
Are PowerPoint presentations a
blessing or a curse? Whatever the
viewpoint, presentation software is still
widely used because it is a familiar and
relatively format. More to the point,
there are a growing number of
applications that support the creation
of slide presentations and/or their
enhancement. Some of them are
designed to support the facile
integration and editing of audio and/or
video components, which makes them
suitable for use in the making of
reusable learning objects.
Prezi
Prezi now supports audio annotations in standardized audio formats,
which makes Prezi and Bunkr, a cloud-based service from France,
competitive with PowerPoint, Keynote, and Libre Office Presentation.
Google Slides
Google Slides offers a wide range of capabilities, but
interestingly does not yet support the inclusion of audio
commentary. It does allow for the inclusion of YouTube
videos, so it is possible to incorporate audio commentary
by that means, but it’s cumbersome. More to the point, it’s
not clear if or when Slides will offer direct support for the
inclusion of audio files.
Libre Office Presentation
Summing Up
• Employ production tools that support open formats in the
import and export of documents and/or other media
• Use formats that enable alteration at a high level of
granularity
• Chunk video into short segments – 5 minutes or less
• Plan carefully – separate transitory administrative
content from learning content
• Back up everything
A bibliography related to this presentation is available at
http://basie.exp.sis.pitt.edu/~christomer/learning_objects_bibliography.html.
Select Resources
ScreenSteps -- http://www.screensteps.com/
MacSnapper -- http://www.kedisoft.com/macsnapper/
Aptana Studio 3 -- http://www.aptana.com/
SnagIt -- http://www.techsmith.com/snagit.html
Camtasia -- http://www.techsmith.com/camtasia.html
Fission -- http://www.rogueamoeba.com/fission/
Audacity -- http://audacity.sourceforge.net/