 About Wisc-Online
The Wisconsin Online Resource Center is a digital library of Web-based learning resources called ¡°learning objects.¡±
The digital library of objects has been developed primarily by faculty from the Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) and produced by multimedia technicians who create the learning objects for the online environment. At present, 383 WTCS faculty members have authored learning objects.
The Wisc-Online digital library contains 2378 objects that are accessible to all WTCS faculty at no cost and with copyright clearance for use in any WTCS classroom or online application. Other colleges, universities, and consortia from throughout the United States and around the world use the library with permission. Current use of the learning object repository exceeds 20,000 hits per day.
Learning objects are designed and developed by a team of instructional designers, editors, technicians, and student interns.
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Learning Objects Defined
• Learning objects are Web-based, self-contained, small chunks
of learning.
• Learning objects are small enough to be embedded in a
learning activity, lesson, unit or course.
• Learning objects are flexible, portable, and adaptable, and can
be used in multiple learning environments and across disciplines.
A learning object is:
• The most basic building block of a lesson or activity
• Searchable
• Usable in any learning environment
• Able to be grouped or to stand alone
• Transportable from course to course and program to program
Types of Learning Objects include:
• Assessments
• Animations
• Simulations
• Case Studies
• Interactions
• Drill and Practice
• Templates
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Why Learning Objects?
Learning increasingly takes place in diverse environments ¨C Web-based courses, video courses, traditional classrooms, Web sites, and resource repositories. Learning objects are adaptable and flexible in any place of learning.
Students have diverse backgrounds and knowledge. Learning objects can teach and remediate, and offer many different kinds of media to meet learners¡¯ styles and paces.
Learning objects add flexibility to the teaching and learning experience. Faculty use learning objects when teaching a basic concept, applying concepts in "real world" applications, checking and testing mastery, providing simulation, or giving remedial instruction.
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Learning Object Development
Learning objects are developed by faculty, for faculty, with the assistance of the Wisc-Online development team.
• A faculty content builder identifies a topic that is difficult for
learners to understand or that presents challenges for
instructional delivery.
• The instructor creates a content outline and script.
• The instructional designer adapts the content for multimedia and
Web delivery.
• The technical developer builds the object.
• Reviewers and the editor evaluate the object.
• The content builder reviews and approves the final learning object to
be posted.
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