1. Presented at the RWC Learning & Teaching Center Technology Buffet August 20, 2007 | Cincinnati, OH By Fabio F. Santos, Ed.D. Department of Math, Physics & Computer Science Raymond Walters College, University of Cincinnati (513)745-5758; fabio.santos@uc.edufabio.santos@uc.edu

2. What are learning objects? There is some confusion in practice about what a learning object is First, there are many definitions out there Second, the term “learning object” is sometimes used interchangeably with the term “information object” Information objects – pictures, video clips, audio clips, animations, text documents Learning objects – information objects tied to educational objectives and to the learning process

3. What are learning objects? For our purposes, “A learning object is any grouping of materials that is structured in a meaningful way and is tied to an educational objective” (Johnson, 2003) Here, the “materials” in a learning object can be: Text documents Pictures Video clips Audio clips Animations Simulations

4. Desired Properties of learning objects A learning object should be Granular Extractable Flexible Searchable Reusable Interoperable Transportable

5. Why learning objects? Digital learning objects: Have the potential to improve student satisfaction and affective reaction with the material at hand Provide students with a means to visualize and ‘manipulate’ concepts and processes in a way that is usually not possible in the regular classroom “Are very much in tune with the anywhere, anytime promise of technology and the Internet” (Johnson, 2003)

6. Learning object development Learning objects are created by a team: Curriculum Developers Instructors Instructional designers Technology support staff Reviewers

7. Resources/References for Learning Objects Authoring and presentation tools Books and scholarly articles on learning objects General repositories of learning objects MERLOT Maricopa Center for Learning and Instruction Campus Alberta Repository of Educational Objects Wisconsin Online Resource Center MIT’s OpenCourseWare Discipline-specific repositories of learning objects