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Peer Review

Understanding Learning Objects

Reviewed:
Oct 5, 2006 by Faculty Development
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Ratings

Overall Rating: 5.0 stars
Content Quality: 5.0 stars
Effectiveness: 5.0 stars
Ease of Use: 4.5 stars
Overview:
A self-paced learning module which helps acquaint you with the basic concepts
around learning objects
Type of Material:
A self-paced learning module with interactive self-testing
Recommended Uses:
To acquaint faculty members, learning module designers and course designers with
the basic properties of learning objects.
Technical Requirements:
This resource requires Windows and as such is not accessible by Mac users unless
they have Virtual PC.
Identify Major Learning Goals:
Define what is a "learning object", based upon current and popular thoughts on
the subject. List three advantages for the use of learning objects. Describe
the future of the concept of learning objects. Locate at least one example of a
learning object on the Internet
Target Student Population:
Faculty and Technology Support Staff
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:
none

Content Quality

Rating:
Strengths:
Very good resource to quickly introduce the concept of learning objects. It is
well referenced with links to references.

Definitions and explanations are clear and concise.

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

Rating:
Strengths:
The resource should be very effective in explaining the concept of learning
objects. The explanations are clear and the references allow the user to
explore concepts in more depth. The resource itself was a good example of a
learning object. Anyone trying to market to faculty the usefulness of MERLOT
could use
this site as an introduction to learning objects.
The site would also be useful for orienting new members to MERLOT editorial
boards on what to look for in learning objects.

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

Rating:
Strengths:
The resource was easily navigated and explicit instructions for navigation were
provided. Using the resource was a pleasant experience due to the layout of the
module and the graphical interest. Each learning module is organized first
with concept-by-concept theoretical content, followed by an overall summary.
The interactive quizzes aided in the learning experience.
Concerns:
1- The resource needed to be downloaded. This site is Windows-based, thereby
excluding Mac users--of whom there are many in academia (unless they have
Virtual PC).
2- On some of the pages, the next/back navigation buttons don\'t go to their
intended destination, requiring the user to circumnavigate by going Home to get
to the next page.
Other Issues and Comments:

Six \"advantages to designing instructional material as learning objects\" are
noted--which could well be used as criteria for evaluating learning objects in
MERLOT.

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