Understanding Web-Based and Web-Enhanced Instruction through Learning Objects
This article explores the distinctions between web-based and web-enhanced instruction, focusing on the role of Learning Objects in educational contexts. Web-based instruction involves learning solely through online platforms, while web-enhanced instruction integrates digital resources into traditional classroom settings. Learning Objects are defined as reusable digital resources that facilitate learning. The text provides an overview of five types of Learning Objects: Fundamental, Combined-Closed, Combined-Open, Generative-Presentation, and Generative-Instructional, highlighting their applications and examples in web-based instruction.
Understanding Web-Based and Web-Enhanced Instruction through Learning Objects
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Presentation Transcript
Learning Objects for Web-Based and Web-Enhanced Instruction Mike Cipriani
First, Some Background… What’s the difference between web-based and web-enhanced instruction? Web-based instruction involves educational activities that take place exclusively via computerized course delivery, generally through the internet. Web-enhanced instruction is when classroom activities use computers, again generally the internet, to augment the learning process.
Three Important Definitions related to Web-Based & Web-Enhanced Instruction • Information = material communicated through a flow of messages to a learner • Instruction = information that is deliberately sequenced to create a learning opportunity • Learning = the cognitive processing of information by the learner
Web sites use Information and Instruction to stimulate learning Web sites deliver information, instruction and learning by using learning objects
What is a Learning Object? The Learning Technology Standards Committee says: "[A]ny entity, digital or non-digital, that may be used for learning, education or training” For our purposes, this definition is too… B-R-O-A-D We need something more specific….
For This Context, What is a Learning Object? We will use Wiley’s definition: “Any digital resource that can be reused to support learning” Key Words in Wiley’s Definition: Digital = available in electronic form; readable and manipulable by computer. Reused = use again after processing Thus, we are narrowing our working definition of Learning Objects to those used in web-based & web-enhanced instruction.
Five Types of Learning Objects • Fundamental • Combined-Closed • Combined-Open • Generative-Presentation • Generative-Instructional
Fundamental • An individual digital resource, usually a visual aid that conveys information • Example: A diagram of the internal parts of a computer http://www.discount-computers-now.com/images/build-your-own-computer-pic.jpg
Combined-Closed • A small number of digital resources combined with a single purpose and whose individual elements are not reusable from the object itself • Example: A video explaining how to install an IDE internal hard drive http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bt7ve7IeAGE
Combined-Open • A large number of digital resources combined for a purpose whose elements are reusable as separate learning objects • Example: An informational web page http://history.sandiego.edu/GEN/recording/computer1.html
Generative-Presentation • A combination of learning objects in a specific structure that generates a presentation for instruction or reference • Example: A page of links to tutorials that together teach the Java programming language http://java.sun.com/docs/books/tutorial/
Generative-Instructional • A combination of learning objects in a specific structure that generates an abstract instructional strategy and means to assess it • Example: A tutorial with interactive practice and quizzes for learning HTML http://www.w3schools.com/html/
References & Additional Info. • http://opencontent.org/wiki/index.php?title=Learning_Object_Metaphors • http://www.eurodl.org/materials/contrib/2005/Santally.htm • http://www.minddrops.com/Talks/innovations2002boston.htm • http://opencontent.org/docs/lo_do.pdf • http://www.reusability.org/read/#1 • http://technologysource.org/article/preparing_teachers_to_use_learning_objects/ • http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/CIE/AOP/LO_what.html • Grabowski, B. and Small, R. (1997). "Information, Instruction and Learning: A Hypermedia Perspective". Performance Improvement Quarterly, 10(1), pp.156-166