Learning Objects at the Learning Commons
The Learning Commons at the University of Calgary is involved in several projects aimed at investigating and advancing the use of learning objects to support the practice of teaching and learning.
These projects range from leading work on learning object repository software and design, to investigating standards for describing and publishing learning objects, to developing and fostering communities of practice.
Learning Object Projects at the Learning Commons
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CAREO: Campus Alberta Repository of Educational Objects
The first version of CAREO began as a prototype web-based application to be used to research possible implications of learning objects in a post-secondary context. Since then, it has been adopted by many institutions as a way to manage digital resources for use in teaching and learning.
CAREO currently has almost 4000 learning objects available to its 700 users, and adoption is increasing every month.
The repository is based on documented educational standards and specifications, making it possible to interoperate with other software, including learning management systems.
The next version of the repository software, code named "APOLLO: Academic Platform for Online Learning with Learning Objects," will be operational by March 2004, and will feature many enhancements in response to user feedback.
Visit the CAREO Repository
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ALOHA: Advanced Learning Object Hub Application
ALOHA is a java application, designed to facilitate rapid publication of digital media as learning objects, which can then be found using CAREO.
This software uses XML schemas to generate a dynamic user interface which enforces strict adherance to defined specifications. It is impossible to create an invalid metadata record using this tool. In addition, ALOHA manages uploading of the metadata and media components of a learning object to appropriate servers.
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Pachyderm 2.0
The Pachyderm 2.0 Project is a partnership led by the NMC and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art ( SFMOMA ), in which software development teams and digital library experts from five NMC universities are working with five major museums to create a new, open source authoring environment for creators of learning objects. The new tool will be based on Pachyderm, the multimedia online authoring and publishing tool developed by SFMOMA to author its successful series, Making Sense of Modern Art .
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Flexible eContent (FlexEC)
FlexEC is being conducted by a consortium of interested institutions and organizations, with a goal of creating a set of guidelines for producing truly reusable media assets. These assets can be used in the creation of more complex learning objects, without having to modify or recreate content.
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Repository to Reality
The goal of R2R is to investigate the role of the IMS Learning Design specification in the context of post-secondary academic institutions.
About Learning Objects...
Learning objects are bits of content that are intended to be used and reused in various contexts. There has been much discussion about what learning objects are, how they should be created, stored, used and reused. Here are some links to the online portions of these discussions:
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David Wiley (Utah State University)
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Brian Lamb (University of British Columbia)
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Norm Freisen (Athabasca University)
Commonwealth of Learning