Learning object

A learning object (of English learning object, and LO, educational object, instructional object, etc.) should be the smallest meaningful unit of study in an online learning package can be disassembled. This definition, however, is highly controversial. It is Wayne Hodgins attributed, in 1994 a working group of " Computer Education Management Association ," the name "Learning Architectures, APIs and Learning Objects", gave the following reasons:

Some consider to be a learning object a short information, such as a single image, a graphic, text, or text modules or animation. Without additional information (called metadata ) to describe is to be used as the learning object, for which target group, and so on, such objects are not reusable and the real goal, which was followed in the preparation of the learning object is unclear. Therefore particularly efficient management systems are required, such as latest generations of component content management systems.

As for books in a library catalog, so there are also for learning objects descriptive information ( metadata). The discussion of what should be included in such a description and efforts to their standardization are currently underway. More at: Learning Objects Metadata.

Learning objects are resources that arranged didactically useful to support learning processes. Are organized and managed learning objects often in a learning management system ( LMS) or Learning Content Management System ( LCMS ), combines a digital platform of functions of a rate system with those of a content management system. It should be noted that didactics and pedagogy is not exhausted in the delivery of resources, but that learning in a discursive exchange between people, such as teachers and learners or learners with each other, is formed. Many LMS go to this call (for example, ILIAS, Moodle, OLAT and OpenOLAT ).

Ideally, there should be self-contained learning objects so that they can be reused in different contexts. This is then called a Reusable Learning Object ( RLO). Although much is written about the fact that such is desirable, there are only specific literature (see below), which documents a meaningful, effective recycling.

Pithamber R. Polsani 2003 provides three key technical characteristics together, has to fulfill the smallest symbolic unit for e -learning content ( see general requirements for content management system ):

• Accessibility ( Accessibility) via the LMS to the objects, possibly with support from Information Retrieval
• Reuse ( Reusability ) by the lowest possible content context binding
• Compatibility ( interoperability ) with platform- independent utility in various applications