Friday, June 8, 2007

Draft Learning Object - formating and info in boxes didn't come through so will repost in Discussions thread

Learning Objects:

Defining Learning Objects:

Extract from Beck, R.J. (n.d.) Learning Objects: An Introduction Retrieved January 11, 2007, from http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/CIE/AOP/learningobjects.html
“Three Prominent Characterizations 1. "modular digital resources, uniquely identified and metatagged, that can be used to support learning" National Learning Infrastructure Initiative
2."any digital resource that can be reused to support learning" David A. Wiley, "Connecting Learning Objects to Instructional Design Theory"
"The main idea of 'learning objects' is to break educational content down into small chunks that can be reused in various learning environments, in the spirit of object-oriented programming"
3. "[A]ny entity, digital or non-digital, that may be used for learning, education or training" IEEE 1484.12.1-2002, 15 July 2002, Draft Standard for Learning Object Metadata, IEEE Learning Technology Standards Committee (LTSC)
One Slightly Lengthier Characterization
Adapted from the Wisconsin Online Resource Center (WORC):
Learning objects are a new way of thinking about learning content. Traditionally, content comes in a several hour chunk. Learning objects are much smaller units of learning, typically ranging from 2 minutes to 15 minutes.
Are self-contained – each learning object can be taken independently
Are reusable – a single learning object may be used in multiple contexts for multiple purposes
Can be aggregated – learning objects can be grouped into larger collections of content, including traditional course structures
Are tagged with metadata – every learning object has descriptive information allowing it to be easily found by a search
The criteria for finding a learning object was:
That is was re-useable and easy to access by the student, small units of practical interactive learning tools, which is self-contained and can be easily integrated into the pharmacy management module to aid meeting the learning objectives of the pharmacy management module.

The following is a list of repositories visited in search of the ideal learning object. The search strategy used to identify learning objects was through use of search engines such as Google and Yahoo, searching medline for online Pharmacy Management modules, searching the University online learning course resources, particularly from the School of Management and through links from the open software tools for e-learning and links within these. Most of the websites mentioned in the learning object repositories were visited on: http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/CIE/AOP/LO_collections.html. Found some useful resources to use in my other courses but unfortunately it didn’t have much for my current course.

Tips for searching is ensuring that you keep a log of sites visited and website addresses visited through links. It is easy to get carried away and loose track of it is you are searching. Finding resources is time consuming so ensure that you are able to afford the time and use the networks with the faculty. You can easily tap into what people are currently using, especially those who currently deliver online courses.


The Chosen Learning object:
The learning object will help my students to achieve the objectives of developing a business plan with a step by step guide to the development of a business plan. The website is www.biz.org.nz and run by the Business Information Organisation.

Terms and Conditions of Use of Website
In order to use the learning object, the students will need to register into the site. However, once this is done it appears to be relatively easy to work through the templates and the descriptions of each to develop a business plan. The online training modules are free to access and take about one hour to complete. You are welcome to link your site to biz.org.nz, noting the following:
· When someone clicks on the link they must see the biz.org.nz site full screen and not in a frame, since framing violates copyright
· Your site must not misrepresent its relationship with biz.org.nz. Do not refer to this site as a Partner site unless you have been given express permission to do so.
Requesting a link from biz.org.nz to your website
The majority of links on this site are to government sites and to government business services via the e-government Metalogue.
If you fit these criteria and want biz.org.nz to link to your site then email and include:
· A sentence describing your site
· The relevancy of the information to biz.org.nz
· The URL of your site
· The URL of the biz.org.nz webpage where you want a link.
Your request will then be considered
How Does it Meet Criteria of Learning Object
It meets my criteria of being useable, easy to find, easily integrated into the pharmacy management module, and helps meet the objectives of Module 4: Business Planning. It provides a template for the students to develop their business plan consistent the New Zealand Primary Healthcare strategy. (Please note that this is an amendment to the CDD and this module replaces the Business Marketing Module).

The learning object will be integrated into Module 4 where students will need to apply there knowledge and the information online module on Business planning to develop a business plan. The Online module offered by the website on business planning can be used as is with no alterations.

Knowledge and experiences of students ie millenials who are used to using the web to augment their assignments will find it easy to use this Learning object and may use it later as Pharmacy managers or in developing their businesses further.


http://www.jisc.ac.uk/whatwedo.aspx Digital repositories, found through searching google.

http://www.vcgame.co.nz/ Venture capital game found through the Trade and Enterprise website.


http://www.tsbc.co.nz/pages/products/OnlineTraining.asp The small business company which has useful interactive training modules for small business management. Found through links from the www.biz.org.nz


http://www.score.org/template_gallery.html


http://www.seraph.net.nz/html/sitlead.html


http://www.excelerator.co.nz/page/excelerator_8.php


http://www.nbnz.co.nz/business/banking/information/guides.htm



http://www.mbda.gov/?script=application_teaser



http://www.consumeraffairs.govt.nz/education/pdfs/s6/02-s6-influencing-the-market.pdf



http://www.hitl.washington.edu/news/



http://www.score.org/small_biz_power_links.html



http://www.escalator.co.nz/display.aspx?cid=1112



http://www.col.org/colweb/site




http://www.ashphighlights.com/ashp_anual_2001/index.htm



Beck, R.J. (n.d.) Learning Objects: An Introduction Retrieved January 11, 2007, from http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/CIE/AOP/learningobjects.html

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