the why and how of learning objects an introduction to sharing, using and creating digital learning

1
the why and how of learning objectsan
introduction to sharing, using and creating
digital learning resources in social work
education

• Sarah Currier- Stòr Cùram Librarian Gráinne
  Hamilton and Jenny Niven-
• Stòr Cùram e-Learning Advisers
• Workshop presentation at JSWEC 2004, Glasgow, 9th
  July 2004

2
Workshop plan

• 1135-1145 Introduction to Stòr Cùram and
  learning objects - Sarah
• 1145-1200 How can learning objects support
  learning in social work education? - Gráinne
• 1200-1220 Finding learning objects in Stòr
  Cùram a hands-on exercise - Sarah
• 1220-1240 Developing learning activities using
  learning objects a practical exercise - Jenny
• 1240-1250 Discussion, comments, questions

3
Why Stòr Cùram?

• We wanted a Scottish identity, but not another
  acronym! so
• Stòr pronounced store - is Gaelic for
  storehouse
• Cùram pronounced coo-ram - is Gaelic for care

4
Specific project aims

• Funded by Scottish Institute for Excellence in
  Social Work Education until July 2005 to
• Develop a national learning object repository,
  or web-based library of learning resources.
• Populate the library with reusable learning
  objects from three different sources.
• Help social work educators embed these reusable
  learning objects in their teaching practice.

5
Whoops jargon alert !!!

• Designing multimedia learning objects
• Eh? Well
• Monolithic Web courses, CD-ROMs etc. are
  difficult to reuse- people often want only part,
  or to update.
• Learning objects are bite-sized learning
  materials designed to be flexible, adaptable, and
  reusable in a range of contexts.
• They usually focus on one or two learning
  objectives or concepts.

6
Project staff

• Project Manager Neil Ballantyne
• Librarian Sarah Currier
• Learning Technologist Ivanna Fernandez
• Administrator Romana McGlynn
• e-Learning Adviser Jenny Niven - Robert Gordon
  University
• e-Learning Adviser Gráinne Hamilton -
  University of Edinburgh

University of Strathclyde
7
The digital repository
Enable storage, search retrieval
8
(No Transcript)
9
Three different sources of learning resources

• Fifty new multi-media learning objects created by
  the project in consultation with the advisory
  group.
• Repurposing existing learning resources digital
  and non-digital.
• Enabling learning resource exchange between
  social work educators PowerPoint slides,
  learning activities, handouts, etc.

10
Developing new learning objects
Develop new multimedia learning objects
conceptual case-based
11
New multi-media learning objects
conceptual case-based
12
Repurpose existing learning resources
Reuse repurpose learning resources
13
Exchanging learning resources
Enable exchange of learning resources
Learning activities PowerPoint presentations Hando
uts
14
Embedding e-learning resources
e-learning advisers offer advice and guidance
short courses and seminars to develop skills and
understanding
15
Learning objects within social work education

• Gráinne Hamilton

16
Social Work e-Learning Strategy Group

• Scottish Executive established a Social Work
  e-Learning Strategy Group
• To achieve the best use of communication and
  information technology to support teaching and
  learning in the development of the social care
  workforce.

17
Elements of the e-learning strategy

• The social nature of learning for social work
  education
• Collaborative learning learning for effective
  and ethical practice is active collaborative
• Problem-based learning learning for effective
  and ethical practice is situated in real world
  problems

18
Elements of the e-learning strategy

• The best use of learning technology for social
  work
• Blended learning flexible use of online face
  to face
• Learning objects flexible, adaptable learning
  resources

19
What are learning objects?

• Re-usable, accessible and adaptable
• Small chunks of learning material which can be
  easily updated
• Easy to blend with other resources whether
  digital or traditional
• Adaptable to meet demands of local curricula
• Designed to be used on a range of platforms

20
Examples of learning objects

• Multi-media simulations and case studies
• Web pages
• Quizzes
• Animations
• Video clips
• PowerPoint presentations
• Word documents with learning activities,
  handouts, reading lists, etc.
• Images, e.g. graphs, diagrams, photos, etc.

21
e-learning for effective and ethical practice?

• The line between so called classroom learning
  and learning in practice needs to be blurred

22
How can this be achieved?

• Multi-media case studies
• Video exemplars
• Service users views
• Rich media explanations of difficult ideas
• Greater collaboration
• Inter-disciplinary sharing
• For use in classroom, to provoke group
  discussion, home study, revision before/during
  placements.

23
Multi-media case studies

• Multi-media case studies focus academic learning
  on real world practice
• Case based scenario introduced and then student
  can work through content, interactions, quizzes,
  assessments etc

24
Video

• Video exemplars of expert practice
• View anytime, anywhere
• Provoke discussion on expert practice
• Students see real life application of learning
• Preparation for real life placement

25
Service users views

• Authentic accounts of service users views
• Gain understanding of service users views in
  context to what student is learning
• Preparation for meeting service users

26
Difficult ideas

• Rich media explanations of difficult ideas that
  can be reviewed and revised, and applied
• Graphics, audio, interactions and quizzes used to
  improve knowledge transfer and test understanding

27
Collaboration

• Greater collaboration and sharing of quality
  learning material through repository
• Inter-disciplinary sharing of learning resources
• Access to wide range of learning resources
• Shared learning, communities of practice

28
Application

• So, you are covering the topic fact or
  professional judgement?
• You want
• something you can use in the classroom to
  demonstrate the concept
• a group discussion on the subject
• students to reflect on discussion and do some
  home study

29
What next?

• That sounds great so how do I find these learning
  objects?
• Sarah.

30
Stòr Cùram what is the storehouse?

• A library (or repository) of learning objects for
  social work education.
• Searchable by key words, educational attributes,
  etc.
• Browseable by specially developed Stòr Cùram
  subject classification or taxonomy.
• Accessible by all social work educators in
  Scotland.
• A way of enabling Scotland wide collaboration in
  the creation and sharing of high quality,
  flexible, learning resources.

31
Developing learning activities using learning
objects a practical exercise

• Jenny Niven

32
Now that youve seen some examples

• How could those help me?
• Think of your courses and areas that students
  struggle with
• How could such learning objects assist them in
  greater understanding of your content

33
Think up your own scenario

• Provide an imaginary scenario where one of the
  existing learning objects has aided your course
  and improved the learning experience for the
  students.

34
Feedback

• Please provide feedback to the group on the
  scenarios practical exercise.
• Comments, discussion and questions?

35
Contact details

• Jenny Niven j.niven_at_rgu.ac.uk
• Grainne Hamilton grainnehamilton_at_ed.ac.uk
• Sarah Currier sarah.currier_at_strath.ac.uk
• http//www.storcuram.ac.uk