Collab.klog.km

What is a learning object?. Glenn Millar has written a very good primer on learning objects, that walks through what they are, how they are constructed, and what they are used for. To quote: First, many educators see learning objects as a viable alternative to... [Column Two]

The paper, from the British Columbia Institute of Technology, classifies learning objects as having the following characteristics:

Smaller units of learning: Learning objects usually comprise a smaller unit of learning than a course, typically ranging from two to 15 minutes.
Self contained: Each learning object is self-contained and can be used independently of other learning objects.
Reusable: Learning objects are reusable. The same learning object can be used in multiple contexts for multiple purposes.
Can be aggregated: Learning objects can be grouped into larger collections of content to create more substantial units of learning.
Tagged with metadata: All learning objects are tagged with metadata that describes the learning object and allows it to be easily retrieved in a search.

All of these are characteristics typical of what one looks for in setting up a CMS. Another important point the author makes is:

The second thing that needs to happen before learning objects can become the norm in educational practice is that educators need to learn more about them. They need to feel comfortable about using them and they need to become adept at searching for them and creating them.

Weblogs, and their associated CMS systems would make great introductions to the modular, reusable, and bite-sized concepts expressed in learning objects. Can we find a way to formalize this connection and build a stronger, long-term value proposition for the educational sector?

Funding for Blog Research

12:13:50 PM

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I'd like to put together a package of weblogging products and support services for public schools and municipalities. Taking inspiration from the Bay Area Writing Project and the mlk Digital Daily Agenda, I think weblogs and their associated publishing technologies can be a boon to the communication and learning challenges these groups face.

But given how tight budgets are for the public sector it seems likely that grants would be one of the few ways school districts and municipal governments could make this happen. I hope Liz will blog the grant proposal process. Judging from the comments on her post she's already generated some interest.

Research on weblogs: getting funding?.
Liz is thinking of applying for funding at the U.S. National Science Foundation to study blogs. Ideas on her mind include "designing new curricula, creating new professional publication models, sponsoring a conference, developing a new online resource center for microcontent publishing, etc, etc." Alex might be interested in such a thing...

This might be the first time that plans for a research grant application are unraveled in such an overt manner. I must say Ilike the approach.
[Seb's Open Research]