[Fle3-dev] FLe3 and learning objects?

[Teemu Leinonen]

Hello,

Have you ever heard about learning objects (LO)? When the idea of LO's 
was first time introduced in e-learning field I was very critical about it.

The underlying idea of having "chunks of learning content that can be 
assembled with other LOs to create courses and curricula, much the same 
way a Lego blocks" is not very well according to the conception of 
knowledge and learning behind Fle3 development(*.

Lately the discussion have been more about LO's as "simulations", 
"introductions" and "starting point content". When the role of the LO is 
not the "building block" of a the course material, but rather a starting 
point or illustration of some difficult concept, I think they could be 
used within Fle3, too. Most of the LO's available nowadays are little 
Java or Flash applications / animation.

For instance in Fle3's Knowledge Building the LO's could be used in two 
different situations:

(1) In KB "Course Context". There could be a library of LO kind of 
interactive presentations of different topics. When creating the course 
context the teacher/tutor could search and find LOs made for this 
purpose. The LO would be a kind of "starting point" and "teaser" opening 
many questions and motivating students to start the knowledge building 
discussion.

(2) In the knowledge building process LO's could be used for presenting 
scientific explanations or new information. For instance when writing 
"scientific explanation" note (or whatever note),  Fle3 could offer 
access to LO database containing different LO's that can be used for 
this purpose.

I think we could rather easily implement and test some LOs in course 
context of Fle3's Knowledge Building. Simply, when creating course 
context the teacher/tutor could choose to use LO and browser some 
content repository where the LO's are located in. Submitting LO's to the 
repository could take place in the "Course Management".

Let me know what you think about this idea? But, please do not ask me 
why "learning objects" are called "learning objects" :-)

- Teemu

*) In Fle3 R&D we have relied on the socio-cultural theory of learning. 
 It means that meaningful learning takes place primarily in communities 
that concentrates on creating and developing expressions of knowledge. 
This is because knowledge is not static (like LOs) but situated in 
teams, organizations and social networks.