Extending the Scope of Learning Objects with XML Bill Tait COLMSCT Associate Teaching Fellow The Open University ALT-C Conference Sep 2007

Objects Learning objects are modular course components defined by specific learning outcomes. Manageable - they are easily authored, updated and replaced without disturbing the rest of the course. Reusable - they are discoverable, less expensive than custom objects and often multimedia objects. Understand program loops Module 1 Module 3 Module 4

Abstraction The object must fit into a context that defines a planned sequence of knowledge construction. It has entry requirements that have to be met by outcomes of earlier units. Entry requirements can be added to object metadata to preserve sequencing. Entry requirements Selection Arrays Interface Repetition

Encapsulation Objects can’t use internal contents of other components. So they can’t extend practical examples to form authentic progression. Need to develop each from scratch or add internal links to the entry requirements. Selection Arrays Interface Repetition Calculator Internal links Entry requirements

Implementation How the learning is achieved – Method - text that defines a learning activity. Content – multimedia that enables the learning process. Container – application whose style should be consistent with context.

Internet Objects Internet repository objects available by searching. Most objects incompatible with the local study context because of abstraction, encapsulation and implementation mismatch. But the inexpensive option, useful for revision and lifelong learning since they provide multiple views. Repetition Selection Arrays Interface Calculator Graphing

Intranet Objects These are custom designed for a specific institutional intranet. They can meet the requirements of contextualisation and encapsulation but implementation may still have to be adapted for tutor groups. But they are expensive requiring in-house or bought-in expertise to create and maintain. Here is a two number calculator that can add, subtract, multiply and divide. It is quite a useful calculator bur can be improved. Discuss features that you would like to add and how you might do this. Then select one of these improvements and add it to the code. Test your program and see if it does what you expected. Calculator Repetition Selection Arrays Interface Calculator

eXtensible Learning Objects Use XML (eXtensible Markup Language) to separate the method text from the rest of the object into two files. XLO allow the tutor to edit the text and adapt Internet objects to cope with pedagogical mismatch - a form of repurposing. The implementation can be further adapted to meet the needs of single student groups by fine tuning the method.

eXtensible Learning Objects

Results The tutorials were published on a website and found to be easily adaptable online by tutors. Feedback was obtained from the website access statistics, html forms and subsequent student workshops. Tutors and students approved of the tutorials but students preferred the original independent learning version.

XLO Applications Adaptable LO – the tutor or course team can acquire an XLO, edit it and save it as their own copy. Also - Mobile LO – keep the content but change the presentation container to a mobile format eg with voiceover for text. Template LO – the tutor can add both learning activity and content such as graphics, digital images or movies.

Mobile Learning Objects

Searching the Web Here is a short movie clip on using the Google search engine to find information on JavaScript on the web. Watch the movie then carry out your own search to find pages about HTML. Discuss your findings and decide which are the best sites. See if you can find any other search engines. Template Learning Objects

Conclusion XLO are technically feasible and easily modified online by tutors to adapt objects to the local pedagogy. The process can be applied to the repurposing of Internet objects or the customising of Intranet objects. XML technology can be used to extend the pedagogical scope of learning objects in many other ways including the use of Mobile, Template and other versions.