Repository Reality Check.

... and we still can't agree on exactly what a learning object is. -- BB

Repository Folly--the Field of Dreams Syndrome. I think Alan Levine's healthy skepticism about learning objects and learning object repositories should be kept in mind because we are in the midst of grant-generated and buzzword enthusiasms. As Alan points out, it is still to be demonstrated that repositories can substantially contribute to the task of practical, everyday course construction by everyday instructors rather than instructional designers, let alone adding efficiences to that task. I sometimes find myself in the camp of the enthusiasts because, on the face of it, the world-wide sharing instructional resources is extremely appealing. However, whenever I've worked at the job of assisting instructors to locate, evaluate, and adopt online resources my enthusiasm gets moderated. JH
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cogdogblog: Repositories Folly (FoD Syndrome). ..."Maybe someday we might need a "repository of repositories" but it seems but a re-hash of what I am now calling Field of Dreams Syndrome (FoDs)- "If you build it, they will come and dump their objects in" (very unlikely) along with "If you Build it, the Objects Will Magically Re-Assemble Themselves Into Something Else". I am still looking for examples of meaningful content built from objects." [EduResources Weblog--Higher Education Resources Online]

11:24:36 PM