What are reusable learning objects (RLO)s?
· A reusable learning object is a web-based (electronic) interactive chunk of e-learning designed to explain a stand-alone learning objective.
· The fact that the learning object has been broken down to a low level of granularity facilitates its reuse in different learning and teaching situations.
· The reusability of any learning object depends mainly on the method of archiving and retrieval of that object.
What forms do learning objects come in?
A learning object can be any of the following
· Animation
· Interactive Simulation
· Puzzle
· Quiz
· Game
· Walkthrough
· Etc…
Things to consider when designing a RLO (from a technical perspective)
Subject matter
Subject category
· Science (e.g How a Sin wave works)
· Technology (e.g Traversing a binary tree data structure)
· Humanities/Education (e.g How to conduct a tutorial)
· Business (e.g How to do a sales forecast using excel)
· Etc…
Type of RLO to design
· How a Sin wave works – Simulation
· Traversing a binary tree data structure - Animation
· How to conduct an effective tutorial – Quiz
· How to do a sales forecast using excel - Walkthrough
Method of delivery
Method of archiving and retrieval
Technological platform for design
Method of delivery
The method of delivery is important to determine which technology to use for the design
Web based delivery
· The learning object should be web friendly
· Cross browser/ cross platform compatible
· Should be able to embed into an HTML page
· Should download fast
· Should be secure
CD/DVD based delivery
· Cross platform compatibility (Windows, Linux, MacOS)
· Accessed using existing software technology
· Use minimum hardware resources
· High quality
Which technologies are available?
· Flash animations
· Flash with XML and action scripts
· Java Script
· Java Applets with Abstract Windows Toolkit (AWT) and Swing
· .NET Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF)
· Silverlight
· Ajax
· Third party e-learning development software
Why the Windows Presentation Foundation WPF?
· Robust
· Web/browser/windows based
· Can achieve complex animations including 3D
· Can incorporate complex programming for adding parameters
· Free for academic use
· Has a GUI
What is required for WPF
· The WPF was a new feature of the Microsoft .NET 3.5 framework. This is available with the new Visual Studio 2010 (Free for academic purposes)
· The WPF builds the code automatically when GUI changes are made and vice-versa.
· Archiving can be problematic as the compete solution folder needs to be archived. This folder could be in the range of 1-5GB.
· Easier to incorporate animations and calculations than Java Applets
· For RLO development using WPF the following team members should be involved
o Designer – To envision how the RLO should look like
o Academics – To work out the mathematical model
o Program Developer – To build the Applet
o QA – To test the RLO for accuracy
o IT Support – To archive the RLO
Why third party e-learning software?
· Very customized for a particular type of RLO
· Many platforms are available for presentation
· Some of these software are Free for use
· RLOs can be easily built
· The RLO can be exported to a suitable platform for use
· The RLO can be stored as project files for re-use
What is required for third party e-learning software?
· These platforms are very specialised and caters to a specific type of RLO
· Some of the platforms are free whilst others charge a licensing fee
· Specific training is required
· Archiving is a bit problematic as there is no self contained package
· For RLO development using third party software the following team members should be involved
o Designer – To envision how the RLO should look like and to design the images/record voiceovers / design animations etc…
o Academics – To provide theoretical input / test accuracy
o IT Support – To archive the RLO
Why Java Applets?
· Light weight
· Web/browser based
· Can achieve complex animations including 3D
· Can incorporate programming for adding parameters
· Can be stored as web pages on a website
· Free and OpenSource
What is required for Java Applet Development
· Java is a Free and Open Source programming platform by Sun Micro Systems
· A Java Applet is build purely using Java Programming. There is no GUI for this.
· Can be archived as a web page with supporting files
· For RLO development using Java Applets the following team members should be involved
o Designer – To envision how the RLO should look like
o Academics – To work out the mathematical model
o Program Developer – To build the Applet
o QA – To test the RLO for accuracy
o IT Support – To archive the RLO
Archiving and retrieval
References
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