IFBLS 2010 Incorporating Vicki S. Freeman, PhD, MLS(ASCP) CM SC Jane Finley, BS, MT(ASCP) Into Specific Course Materials

Purpose This presentation will demonstrate how: CLS course materials can be broken down into small instructional units called learning objects. "mini" instructional units are cataloged into a web- accessible database and shared with faculty to provide lecture and laboratory teaching to a variety of audiences in a variety of settings. this format has broad potential that for CLS educators internationally for use in clinical laboratory science education.

Objectives Upon completion of this session, the participant will be able to: 1.Define the 4 levels of learning objects. 2.Identify 6 uses of learning objects in teaching CLS students. 3.Incorporate learning objects into a sample lesson. 4.Develop 1 LO to use in a lecture.

Ideas to Think About Concepts that students have a hard time grasping How these concepts can be demonstrated graphically LOs that might be developed to demonstrate these concepts Iron Testing lesson

What are Learning Objects? "[A]ny entity, digital or non-digital, which can be used, re-used or referenced during technology supported learning" -- Learning Object Metadata Working Group of the IEEE Learning Technology Standards Committee (LTSC) “Modular digital resources, uniquely identified and metatagged, that can be used to support learning." -- National Learning Infrastructure Initiative

What are Learning Objects? “Any digital resource that can be reused to support learning." "The main idea of 'learning objects' is to break educational content down into small chunks that can be reused in various learning environments, in the spirit of object-oriented programming." -- David A. Wiley, "Connecting Learning Objects to Instructional Design Theory"

What are Learning Objects? Smaller units of learning Self-contained Reusable Can be aggregated Tagged with metadata -- Wisconsin Online Resource Center

Levels of Learning Objects Level 1 –Simple graphics or images Level 2 –Animation or video clip showing a specific mechanism Level 3 –Requires specific student interaction Level 4 –Entire module / lesson / unit

Examples of Level 1 LO’s

Examples of Level 2 LO’s Video of a positive catalase test

What is this? Fe+2

Example of Level 3 LO Interactive lesson on the interpretation and principle of the Indole biochemical test used to identify bacteria

Example of Level 4 LO A module / lesson / unit Click here to open Urine Streaking lesson

Benefits of Learning Objects Flexibility –Reassemble into your own lesson format to support individual instructional goals Customization –Just-in-time approach –Personalize content

Benefits of Learning Objects Efficiency –↑ Speed & efficiency of instructional development –↓ Faculty preparation time Access –Deliver over the Internet –Many individuals simultaneously –Minimal effort

Benefits of Learning Objects Increased value of content –Cost savings –Reusable –Sharable / Sellable Facilitation of competency-based learning –Student-centered –Sufficiently modular is truly adaptive

Benefits of Learning Objects Interoperability –Works in various learning systems and contexts between organizations –Follow specific standards for development (i.e. SCORM, XML) Ease of updates, searches & content management –Metadata tags aid in filtering & selecting relevant content

How to Find Learning Objects Search engines Through a website portal Repository –Search Key words Media file types

What is a Repository? “[A] central database containing the tens or hundreds of thousands of individual objects. Such databases will be multi-functional…” - - Stephen Downes Also contains metadata Searchable

What is Metadata (Metatags)? “…data which describes other data, or information that describes other information…” Purpose –“…it provides the ability to richly describe and identify learning content so that we can find, assemble, and deliver the right learning content to the right person at the right time.” -- Elliott Masie, MASIE Center Industrial Report

Repository Examples Wisconsin Online Resource Center Project HEAL (Health Education Assets Library) BEN – BioSciEdNet WebCLS

Web-Accessible LO Database

Learning Object Properties

Build your Own LO Task Analysis Blank Example Task Analysis Use of Storyboards to plan Example Storyboard

Groups Haematology –Haemacytometer Chemistry – Levy Jennings Chart Immunology – Serial Dilution Microbiology – Setting up a biochemical tube with motility

How to Use Learning Objects The Instructional Aspect Print-outs or PowerPoint –Student laboratory $$ savings Pictures in place of actual test Kodachrome practical –Microscope identification parasite demo –Interpretation of results Catalase test Biochemical Panels Indole Reaction

How to Use Learning Objects The Instructional Aspect Lectures –Pictures - PowerPoint –Demonstration - video –Conceptualization – animation Assessment Online lessons –Blackboard Learning Units

How to use Learning Objects The Technical Aspect Download Copy / Paste -or- Drag / Drop Link to Actual instructions on how to do this can be found on WebCLS website

How to build a Lesson Using LOs 1.Choose the topic of the lesson. 2.Determine the objectives of the lesson. 3.Decide on the instructional method. 4.Develop a lesson plan 5.Gather materials and examples, i.e. LOs.

Demonstration - Building a Lesson with LOs Use PowerPoint Incorporate: –Pictures (jpg, gif) –Animated gif –Video (mov) –Audio (wav) –Flash (swf)

Building a Lesson with LOs Use PowerPoint to develop LOs –Indirect agglutinationIndirect agglutination –Quality Control ChartQuality Control Chart –Liver FunctionLiver Function –HemacytometerHemacytometer Turn into an automated lesson using iSpring Free ( Test

Summary Defined “digital learning object” and other key words Looked at benefits and uses of learning objects Demonstrated how to find and incorporate learning objects into a lesson Planned how to make a learning object

IFBLS 2010 Questions / Comments Handout available at:

Thank you!! Addresses Vicki Freeman Jane Finley