LTDC Online News

Presenters: Bob Hoar & Jennifer Kosiak, UW LaCrosse Mathematics Department

Blogged by: Karen Franker, Instructional Designer, UW Colleges/Extension

Process of creating learnng objects explained by Jennifer as a self-contained chunk of knowledge

Elements of LO’s:
Problem
Solution
ChalkTalks –podcasts where students can see & hear problem being presented
Hints
Tutorials
More Information needed — how to access and understand terms
Sandboxes — virtual playgrounds
Vocabulary

They use a learning object design model which provides a collection of resources that will help students better understand the information.

Described work with inservice teachers in Milwaukee to help them with PRAXIS exam by giving them learning objects to help them do better in exam. Use of Flash tutorials to review a math problem with visuals and hints in text bubbles. Demonstrated a ChalkTalk podcast which also uses a tablet PC to show how the problem is worked.

Uses of Learning Objects:
Course Modules
Supplementary course materials
Remedial or refresher lessons
How-to-tutorials — help faculty create learning objects for students
Diversity and access — universal design model; giving students better access to the knowledge

Found that Sandbox needs to be a guided experience by faculty; otherwise students don’t know how to proceed

MathCast Project: Showed a sample of using iFrame and HTML to present a math problem and answer; focus on developing math skills for students transitioning from high school to college. How can learning objects be developed quickly and cheaply by high school teachers to help students better learn math content so they are better prepared for college math?

Students respond better to podcasts created by a familiar voice — by teachers they know, rather than some impersonal unknown voice. Use Jing to create screencasts.

How hard is it to build a learning object? Can be done in 3 minutes!

Other areas supported by learning object development: ThinkAloud protocol — having students read through a math problem, following prompts by a Student Services staff person, see how student interacts with that learning object. This helps to design better learning objects.
Another project: a children’s lit book written in both Hmong and English using screen capture tool with audio while text is displayed. Can transfer this to doing math problem learning objects in Spanish for ELL students.
Another example: creating a learning object which is an interactive glossary with audio and video

Workflow for getting podcast embedded in course content for high school teachers; need for low maintenance; very little of it is server-based– most resides “in the cloud”; used a Google Docs template to give the object a URL; editing rights for the learning object can be shared with other faculty through Google Docs; can edit right within the learning object preview window if you give them sharing rights.

Demonstrated using the free Jing software to create and upload a new learning object via FTP to the MathCast site.