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Finding and Using Learning Objects

Learning objects are digital teaching resources that are usually disseminated over the internet. On the internet, they can often be found in Learning Object Repositories which are searchable databases where learning objects are categorized by themes. More and more learning objects are being developed in accord with the Open Educational Resources movement, allowing users free access to, use and dissemination of, and sometimes the right to change the resources.

Because learning objects can be placed in Moodle courses and/or demonstrated in class to help students access and think about course content in different ways, learning objects can supplement traditional information sources like textbooks and lectures. However, despite their benefit to face-to-face and online instruction, they have some limitations:

  • It can sometimes be hard to find relevant learning objects on the internet
  • They may require some technical knowledge to insert them into a Moodle course or use them in class

When starting to research what learning objects might be relevant for you course, the first place to look would be textbook CDs or textbook publisher’s website. Next, you should expand your search to Learning Object Repositories. Note that there will likely be repositories specific to your discipline which you can learn about by searching the internet or speaking with your colleagues. Below is a list of general repositories that would serve as a good place to start. Once you find a good learning object or repository, it is a good idea to share them with your colleagues.

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a a SOL*R
BCcampus
A collection of learning resources built by academic institutions in BC. Use requires sing-up and login.
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a a Free Learning
BCcampus
A Google-powered search engine for learning objects within Open Educational Resource repositories.
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a a Merlot
Merlot
A large repository of learning objects. Requires signup and login.
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a a Introduction to Learning Object Repositories
George Mason University
General discussion on use case scenarios, benefites, limitations, and pedagogical issues.