Reusable Learning Objects in Web-Assisted & Web-Delivered Instruction

Jim FlowersAssociate Professor & Director of Online Education

Dept. of Industry & Technology, Ball State University

jcflowers1@bsu.eduhttp://www.bsu.edu/web/jcflowers1/flowers.htm

Supported by Ball State Univ.

Master of Arts in Technology Education

Planned to be 100% online

Master of Arts in Industrial Vocational / Technical Education

Planned to be 100% online

www.bsu.edu/web/iandt

Outline:RIOsRLOsA personal evolution toward RLOsCurrent and future projects

What are RLOs and RIOs?Reusable Learning Objects

Reusable Informational Objects(Reusable Knowledge Objects)

Informational or Instructional?Is the purpose to provide information?

Is the purpose to guide a learner through a learning process?

Informational Objects:

A graphicA block of textA media fileA tableThis graphic ->A “chunk” An interactive applet: http://www.phy.ntnu.edu.tw/java/ruler/vernier.html

RIO and GranularityModular building blocks

Modular grains of information

Granularity or “chunk size”

Course DecompositionBegin with rethinking learning outcomes and course redesign.Break a course into small, reusable chunks, which can facilitate multiple ways of using those chunks.Strip out course-specifics from RIOs.Name, organize, and add metadata to RIOs.

Re-assembly of RIOs into RLOsGuided by learning objectives (often, 1)Design learning activitiesContextualize existing course-independent RIOs by adding course-specifics from other files as needed

You may ask,“But when I lecture, I just give them the facts they need. So isn’t an RLO just a collection of information objects?”

e.g., Gagne’s 9 Events of Instruction

1. Gain the attention of the learner/audience.

2. Inform the learner of the objectives.

3. Stimulate the learner's recall of prior learning.

4. Present stimulus material.

5. Provide guidance for the learner.

e.g., Gagne’s 9 Events of Instruction

6. Elicit performance by the learner with the material.

7. Provide feedback to the learner on their performance.

8. Assess the performance of the learner.

9. Enhance learner's ability to retain their learning and to transfer it to other situations.

Learning ObjectsA sequence of learning events

Often around a single objective

Often comprised of many RIOs

Often with internal assessment/feedback for the learner

Not necessarily course specific

A Learning Object:

A Note on Distinguishing Between RIOs and RLOs

HierarchyNesting one object inside another

RIO or RLO

Example of a personal evolution toward RLOs

1. Traditional Face-to-face

3-ring binder course

2. Syllabus deconstruction and uploading

Fall, 1998 Construction Systems Class

ITEDU306/306.htm

3. Putting lectures and handouts online

Fall, 1999 Teaching Technology Class

ITEDU395/395.htm

So-called modules:ITEDU395/395mod.htm

4. Experimenting putting lessons online

Fall, 1999 Teaching Technology lesson on design briefs.

ITEDU395/8desbri.htmInteractive elements

5. Dedicated learning modules in an online classFall, 2000 Online Class

510/Modules/01_orientation/orientation.htm(But they contain course title, module number, hidden class assignments, and a link to the next lesson.)

6. Making a lesson more generic

Online Lesson, particular to one course.

510/Modules/01_orientation/login.htm

The same lesson, written more generically:

rlo/login.htm

7. A module or RLO surrounding lessons

Spring, 2001 face-to-face classrlo/206.htm(Look at Module 4, Product Usability. Notice how the collaborative Anthropometrics Activity is not included in the Anthropometrics lesson.)

8. Further dissectionA lengthy module on 17 technology assessment techniques

rlo/206.htm Visit Module 9, Lesson 9C.

An alternate format that dissects the lesson on technology assessment techniques into smaller chunks and provides multiple paths through the information:

rlo/ta.htm

9. Using RLOs as a general approach

to developing curricular materials in a face-to-face class (promoting multi-use and online access.)A new class on technical communication & presentation skills and applying math & science to solve technical problems:

rlo/160.htm

Cisco’s Learning Objects

From: http://www.bitpipe.com/data/detail?id=962198364_445&type=RES&x=933961370

Advantages of Web RLOs

RLOs can provide for better management

Minimal redundancy

Centralized updates

Constantly immediately updateable

Online RLOs can provide for increased accessibility

Multiple classes of an instructor

Multiple instructors’ classes

Learners with specific interests

(24-7 global access)

RLOs can provide for increased learning opportunities

Online access

MultiuseBy others than the initial target audience

By a student, repeatedly

Throughout the entire class or longer

May allow further levels of instruction in greater depth

RLOs can provide for multiple learning paths

Unified

MultipleCustomized by instructor

Customized by learner

Automated

Considerations in Creating Web RLOs

Initial development requirements

Testing

Database requirementsMetadata & Search features

Object granularity

Language, culture, reading level, type and amount of media, etc.

Some recommend RLOs that:Are uniform

Are nearly media independent

Are written in XML

A common concern:Will RLOs decrease degree of student/instructor interaction?

Current & Future Projects

Continue on the pathMore objectsStandardized metadataNew contextualizationObject-based feedback to authorStudies of effectiveness

Ball State’s RIO DatabasePlanning stages

Metadata

Multimedia, text, etc.

Access to segments of objects (video)

Automated Lesson SelectionTo create automated lesson selection based on (pretest)

Learner’s Knowledge and AbilitiesLearner’s ObjectivesLearner’s Preferred Learning Styles

Increased CustomizabilityIncreased time for interaction with instructor

The FutureBuild your learning with RLOs: Customized degree, specified credit

SummaryA general approach to curricular design

Educationally sound chunking and reassembly

Granularity

Multiuse

Don’t just provide content, stylize learning.

A New? Approach to InstructionInstead of

Only answering a common question by EmailUsing a handoutMaking an overhead transparencyDrawing that same problem on the board

Create online reusable informational objects and learning objects

Sources of InformationThe Instructional Use of Learning Objects

http://reusability.org/read/

Learning Object Design & Sequencing Theoryhttp://wiley.ed.usu.edu/docs/dissertation.pdf

Knowledge Management Through Reusable Information/Learning Objects

http://cluster.techlearn.net/exe/test/presentations/session_404/index.cfm?id=342

Sources of InformationCisco’s Reusable Learning Object Strategy

Cisco’s Reusable Information Object Strategy

For more information:For more information about Ball State’s online courses or Jim’s use of RIOs and RLOs, contact:

Jim Flowers

jcflowers1@bsu.edu

Reusable Learning Objects in Web-Assisted & Web-Delivered Instruction

Jim FlowersAssociate Professor & Director of Online Education

Dept. of Industry & Technology, Ball State University

jcflowers1@bsu.eduhttp://www.bsu.edu/web/jcflowers1/flowers.htm