Object lessons

Jenny Niven and Gráinne HamiltonStòr Cùram e-Learning Advisers

Workshop presentation at National eHealth education, Training and Development Conference, Stirling, 29 September 2004

2

Workshop plan• Introduction to Stòr Cùram• What are learning objects?• Learning objects: process of creation• Learning objects: examples • How can learning objects support learning?• What’s a repository?• Finding learning objects in the Stòr• Discussion, comments, questions

3

Why Stòr Cùram?

We wanted a Scottish identity, but not another acronym! … so:

Stòr– pronounced ‘store’ - is Gaelic for storehouse

Cùram– pronounced ‘coo-ram’ - is Gaelic for care

4

Project staff

• Project Manager – Neil Ballantyne• Librarian – Sarah Currier• Learning Technologist – Ivanna Fernandez• Administrator – Romana McGlynn• Clerical Assistant – Laura Molloy• e-Learning Adviser – Jenny Niven - Robert Gordon University• e-Learning Adviser – Gráinne Hamilton - University of Edinburgh

Glasgow School of Social Work

5

Specific project aims

Funded by Scottish Institute for Excellence in Social Work Education until July 2005 to:

• Develop a national ‘learning object repository’, or web-based library of learning resources.

• Populate the library with reusable learning objects from three different sources.

• Help social work educators embed these reusable learning objects in their teaching practice.

6

What are learning objects?

• Re-usable, accessible and adaptable• Small chunks of learning material which can be

easily updated• Easy to blend with other resources whether

digital or traditional• Adaptable to meet demands of local curricula• Designed to be used on a range of platforms

7

Examples of learning objects

• Multi-media simulations and case studies• Web pages• Quizzes• Animations• Video clips• PowerPoint presentations• Word documents with learning activities, handouts,

reading lists, etc.• Images, e.g. graphs, diagrams, photos, etc.

8

Three different sources of learning objects

• Fifty new multi-media learning objects created by the project in consultation with the advisory group.

• Repurposing existing learning resources – digital and non-digital.

• Enabling learning resource exchange between social work educators – PowerPoint slides, learning activities, handouts, etc.

9

Developing new learning objects

Develop new multimedia

learningobjects

conceptual&

case-based

10

New multi-media learning objects

conceptual&

case-based

11

Repurpose existing learning resources

Reuse & repurposelearning resources

12

Exchanging learning resources

Enableexchangeof learningresources

Centres for excellence

Socialwork

agencies

SCIE

Nine HEIs

Stòr Cùram

University ofEdinburgh

University ofDundee

OpenUniversity

Robert GordonUniversity

GlasgowCaledonianUniversity

University ofPaisley

University ofStirling

Glasgow School

of Social Work

Stòr Cùram Learning activities

PowerPoint presentations

Handouts

13

Collaboration

• Greater collaboration and sharing of quality learning material through repository

• Inter-disciplinary sharing of learning resources• Access to wide range of learning resources• Shared learning, communities of practice

14

Our Learning Objects

• Fact or Professional Judgement?

• Genogram

• Meet the O’Donnells

15

e-learning for effective and ethical practice?

“The line between so called ‘classroom learning’ and ‘learning in practice’ needs to be blurred”

16

How can this be achieved?

• Multi-media case studies • Video exemplars• Service users’ views• Rich media explanations of difficult ideas• Greater collaboration • Inter-disciplinary sharing

• For use in classroom, to provoke group discussion, home study, revision before/during placements.

17

Multi-media case studies

• Multi-media case studies focus academic learning on real world practice

• Case based scenario introduced and then student can work through content, interactions, quizzes, assessments etc

• Rich media explanations of difficult ideas that can be reviewed, revised and applied

18

Video

• Video exemplars of expert practice• View anytime, anywhere • Provoke discussion on expert practice• Students see real life application of learning• Preparation for real life placement

19

Service users’ views

• Authentic accounts of service users’ views• Gain understanding of service users’ views in

context to what student is learning• Preparation for meeting service users

20

Stòr Cùram: what is the “storehouse”?

• A library (or repository) of learning objects for social work education.

• Searchable by key words, educational attributes, etc.• Browse through a specially developed Stòr Cùram

subject classification or taxonomy.• Accessible by all social work educators in Scotland.• A way of enabling Scotland wide collaboration in the

creation and sharing of high quality, flexible, learning resources.

21

The digital repository

Enable storage, search

& retrieval

22

23

Now that you’ve seen some examples• How could those help me?• Think of areas that peers or students struggle

with• How could learning objects assist them in

gaining greater understanding• Do you have content you can share with the

Stòr?• Contact details are contained within your packs.