Re-using online learning materials: application

and process

Julie Watson and Vicky Wrightjw17@soton.ac.uk vmw@soton.ac.uk

Overview

• Introduction– eLanguages at Southampton

• E-learning materials in Higher Education• Learning Objects (LOs) and the concept

of re-usability• Design processes• Issues and challenges for the future

Introduction

• Consortium of 6 UK universities led by Southampton

• Funded to develop e-tutor supported online English for Academic Purposes (EAP) modules (IELTS 5.5-6.5)

• Initially designed for use on newly developed learning environment (SUN Systems)

• Now being re-purposed for use on Blackboard in both blended and distance modes

E-learning material

• Developed in the form of reusable learning objects (LOs)

• The ‘building blocks’ for stand-alone online modules in EAP or online support programs in blended learning environments

• Designed for use on different web-based platforms (interoperable)

Learning Objects

• … are internally contextualised• … are activity-based • … use text, audio, video, animation,

interactive exercises, threaded discussion, real-time voice and text chat

Towards reusability

• Conformity to a set of design principles ensuring a consistent LO style

• Use of a customised Dreamweaver toolbar for LO creation

• Use of reusable Flash activity types into which new content can be inserted

• Ensuring LOs can be delivered through different VLEs

The customised Dreamweaver toolbar

– Activity boxes– Show/hide buttons – Glossary link– Link to gateway page for weblinks– Online dictionary link– Text fields for writing in– Drop down boxes– Radio buttons– Links to dependent resources ( DRs) such as images,

Flash, pdf and Word files, Hot Potatoes

Processing learning objectsCreate LOs Submit for

editorial comment

Carry out any revisions

Checklist LOs

Submit LOs to Southampton

Final editing

Final checklisting

Move LOs from working to master folders

Upload to web-based learning environment

Course design processDesign new course

Retrieve suitable LOs from existing bankCarry out any

revisions Create any new LOs neededEdit and

checklistnew LOs

Review and revise course structure and contentCreate course

structure in VLE Move LOs

from working to master folders

Upload LOs to VLE

First problems

• Level of interactivity/student scaffolding• Clarity of LO instructions • Guidelines for developers • Creating reusable LOs • Dependent resources • Weblinks

Future challenges

• Assigning metadata to LOs• Storage and retrieval of LOs• Simple user interface for Flash bank• Research and refreshment

Useful references

• Jolliffe, A., J. Ritter & D. Stevens (2001) The Online Learning Handbook: Developing and Using Web-based Learning. London and Sterling, VA: Kogan Page.

• Littlejohn, A. (Ed) (2003) Reusing Online Resources: a sustainable approach to e-learning. London and Sterling, VA: Kogan Page.