This document discusses different approaches to learning objects along a spectrum from purist to pragmatist. Purist learning objects are highly granular, de-contextualized, and closed, while pragmatic objects are more open, contextualized, and modular. Different types of learning objects are appropriate for different learning purposes and settings. Both have benefits like flexibility and cost-effectiveness, but purist objects risk losing context, connections, and narrative while pragmatic objects better enable independent, reflective, and constructivist learning. Overall, pragmatic objects balance these risks and benefits better.

1. Learning Objects:
appropriateness and efficiency
John Millner

2. Not one, but a spectrum of learning object
approaches
Pragmatist
Purist

3. Not one, but a spectrum of learning object
approaches
Pragmatist
Purist
Objects are
Objects are
• modular / open
• unitised / closed
• references out ok
• no references out
• contextualised
• de-contextualised
• less granular
• highly granular
• less easily re-used
• highly re-usable

4. Different learning objects for different
learning purposes ...
Pragmatist
Purist

5. Different learning objects for different
learning purposes ...
Pragmatist
Purist
Appropriate for
Appropriate for
• explorative /
• systems skills training
• transferring factual info independent learning
• collaborative /
• behaviourist / cognitivist
reflective learning
• constructivist / CoP

6. ... and different learning settings
Pragmatist
Purist

7. ... and different learning settings
Pragmatist
Purist
Appropriate for Appropriate for
• drilling for tests • independent learning
• operational skills training • lifelong learning
• eg soldiers • eg students on H806

8. Short learning events?

9. Short learning events?
• All learning events have duration - tho most learning is
continuous
• Learning event variables are: how short? and how discrete?
• Learning Objects may be either short (= few minutes) or long
(= several hours) ...
• ... but are relatively discrete

10. Learning objects: benefits

11. Learning objects: benefits
• Plays to strengths of internet's underlying architecture
(chunks of data encoded in a standard language & linked via
universal protocols)
• Enhances learner control over what to learn in which order -
potentially promoting reflective learning
• Enhances flexibility, portability and time-efficiency - enabling
just-in-time & lifelong learning
• Pragmatic LOs may use links between objects to highlight
connections between ideas (connectivism)
• The more reusable LOs are, the more cost effective they
become

12. Learning objects: risks

13. Learning objects: risks
• Loss of connectivity: deep learning is about making
connections between things. Greatest risk at Purist end of
spectrum
• Loss of context: deep learning is necessarily contextualised.
Greatest risk at Purist end
• Loss of narrative - the step by step learning story in which
each step builds on the previous one in a linear way.
Greatest risk at Purist end

14. Learning objects: risk / benefit comparison

15. Learning objects: risk / benefit comparison
• Risks - loss of connectivity, context and narrative - are mostly
at the Purist end of the LO spectrum
• Some benefits - control, flexibility, time-efficiency etc - can be
obtained at both ends of the spectrum
• Other benefits - independent learning, constructivist learning,
reflectivity - can probably only be obtained at the Pragmatic
end
• Despite the likely need for some reversioning, re-use of
Pragmatic LOs are certainly capable of producing cost-
efficiencies - see A Learning Object Success Story