1. Guidelines for Authors of Learning Objects Rachel S. Smith Director, Development & Programs NMC: The New Media Consortium June 16, 2004 | Vancouver

2. rachel@nmc.org | www.nmc.org slide 2 Workshop Agenda Introductions Placing Learning Objects in Context –Questions to Consider: Planning –Examples, exercises, discussion Guidelines –Examples, exercises, discussion, break After Design: Development & Beyond –Discussion –Questions?

3. rachel@nmc.org | www.nmc.org slide 3 Introductions Who I am Who are you? –Faculty –Instructional Designers –Media Staff –Web Developers –All of the above? Who has already read the “text”?

4. rachel@nmc.org | www.nmc.org slide 4 Placing Learning Objects in Context Def: A learning object is any grouping of materials that is structured in a meaningful way and is tied to a learning objective (Johnson, 2003) Digital learning objects vs. non-digital learning objects Flexible, cost effective, customizable Let’s look at some examples…

5. rachel@nmc.org | www.nmc.org slide 5 Examples of Digital Learning Objects Biology Labs On-Line California State University & Pearson Ed. Boids Craig Reynolds The French Horn Catherine Schmidt-Jones PharmSim California State University

6. rachel@nmc.org | www.nmc.org slide 6 Questions to Consider What is your educational goal? –example –exercise (part 1 of page 1) How will your learning object be used? –example –exercise (part 2 of page 1) What resources are at your disposal? –exercise (page 2) Planning

7. rachel@nmc.org | www.nmc.org slide 7 Designing to Enable Learning Keep your educational goal in focus. Choose meaningful content that directly supports your educational goal. –exercise (page 3 - assets) Select appropriate activity structures. –exercise (page 5 – activity plan) Present content in appropriate ways. –exercise (page 4 – concept map) Guidelines

8. rachel@nmc.org | www.nmc.org slide 8 Designing the Learner’s Experience Layout planning –examples –exercise (page 6) BREAK – 10 minutes Graphic design checklist –resources Usability checklist –resources Guidelines

9. rachel@nmc.org | www.nmc.org slide 9 Accessibility, Reusability, Interoperability Designing for Accessibility –resources & discussion Designing for Reusability –resources & discussion Designing for Interoperability & Adding Metadata –resources & discussion Guidelines

10. rachel@nmc.org | www.nmc.org slide 10 Starting Development Gathering requirements –resources Choosing technology/development tools –examples –resources –discussion/ideas Development & Beyond

11. rachel@nmc.org | www.nmc.org slide 11 Development Cycle Design, test, refine, repeat Develop, test, refine, repeat Development & Beyond

12. rachel@nmc.org | www.nmc.org slide 12 Marketing Learning Objects Repositories & Libraries –examples & discussion Care & Feeding –discussion Questions? Development & Beyond

13. rachel@nmc.org | www.nmc.org slide 13 Thank you! My contact information: Rachel Smith rachel@nmc.org