Subject: Learning Resources v Collaboration
From: Barney Dalgarno (bdalgarno@csu.edu.au)
Date: Tue 15 Feb 2000 - 23:54:48 MET
Date: Wed, 16 Feb 2000 09:54:48 +1100 From: Barney Dalgarno <bdalgarno@csu.edu.au> Subject: Learning Resources v Collaboration
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A couple of people have criticised the concept of learning objects because
they are unsupportive of collaborative learning (eg. Anita and Ania).
This criticism could equally be applied to any Computer Assisted Learning
(as opposed to Computer Mediated Communication) resource. I think the
crucial issue here is that CAL resources (and learning objects in
particular) lend themselves well to certain learning domain and
specifically to certain learning outcomes. Similarly collaborative learning
strategies lend themselves to certain types of learning outcomes.
It seems in some disciplines (eg. the Arts) collaboration works very well,
and thus educators in these disciplines tend to focus on the use of the
Internet for communication and dismiss (or at least ignore) the value of
interactive learning resources (in the human-computer interaction sense).
Other disciplines (eg. the Sciences) which often involve individual
learning of concepts about "the way things work" can be well supported by
such resources.
Clark has responded to this criticism by saying that the learning objects
can themselves be collaborative objects. I don't really agree. I think most
people prefer to use generic cummunication tools (eg. I choose the mailer I
like and keep using it) rather than having communication tools provided as
part of a resource.
I think it would be better to say up front that learning objects are
designed for individual learner-computer interaction, and consequently will
never satisfy all intended learning outcomes and thus will not be the only
strategy used.
Regards,
Barney
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* Barney Dalgarno *
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* School of Information Studies *
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