What Are Learning Objects?

Three Prominent Characterizations
- "modular digital resources, uniquely identified and metatagged, that can be used to support learning"
  - National Learning Infrastructure Initiative
    - NLII now endorses Wiley definition
- "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"
- "[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)
  - http://ltsc.ieee.org/wg12/files/LOM_1484_12_1_v1_Final_Draft.pdf
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
Other Characterizations:
- Nichani, Maish. "LCMS = LMS + CMS [RLOs] - How does this effect the learner? The instructional designer?" elearningpost. http://www.elearningpost.com/articles/archives/lcms_lms_cms_rlos/
- Shepherd, Clive. "Objects of Interest," TACTIX, December 2000. Published in IT Training, February 2001http://www.fastrak-consulting.co.uk/tactix/features/objects/objects.htm
- Wiley, David. "The Post-LEGO Learning Object," November 5, 1999. http://opencontent.org//docs/post-lego.pdf
- Wiley, D. A. (2000). "Connecting learning objects to instructional design theory: A definition, a metaphor, and a taxonomy," in D. A. Wiley, ed., The Instructional Use of Learning Objects: Online Version. Retrieved May 18, 2001, from the World Wide Web: http://reusability.org/read/chapters/wiley.doc