Leveraging Reusable Learning Objects to Increase Performance

As discussed in my previous post, if E-learning is to be effective it must be designed correctly for a specific audience and focused on intended performance.  This creates a better experience for the learner and by following a systematic process for creating E-learning, developers can benefit with lower costs and efficiency.  To accomplish this, Reusable Learning Objects (RLO’s) is the way to go.

Defined in a previous post, RLO’s are the equivalent to lessons, a collection of Information Objects (chunks of content) compiled in context to a learning objective.

The move to learning objects over these many years offers the promise of capturing knowledge, organizing it and enabling it to be shared and reused among many learners to create new knowledge.  H. Wayne Hodgins from Autodesk, Inc., wrote a whitepaper titled The Future of Learning Objects.  In his paper he discussed how RLO’s increases the effectiveness of learning and human performance by offering up such objects in a defined content model.

This model comprises a strategy that consists of the following:

• Common component-based approach
• Structured content based on a common hierarchical data model
• Metadata at each level of the content hierarchy
• Process methodology
• Technical infrastructure for developing, assembling and managing granular content objects written independently of the delivery media and accessed dynamically through a database

The end result is a database-managed repository of reusable information objects and metadata that can be used for all forms of learning and media delivery types (Hodgins, 2002).

These repositories are commonly known as learning management systems (LMS).  When the chosen model brings together objects in a relevant, meaningful manner and applied strategically, learners have a better experience.  Better experiences lead to better performance.

In the next post, I’ll discuss how when these content models are applied they increase learner performance with some specific examples.

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