This document discusses reusability and reusable design of resources. It defines reusability as the ability to use a resource multiple times in different ways and contexts. For a resource to be reusable, it must meet three requirements: (1) it must be identifiable through metadata, (2) users must be able to use it through appropriate permissions, and (3) it must work across different platforms and contexts. The document provides guidelines for making resources more reusable, such as adding thorough metadata, using open licenses, following standards, and designing content that can stand alone and be adapted in different contexts and presentations. The goal is to maximize reuse of resources to save time and money.

1. Reusability and Reusable Design
Ben Clark - IT 8000

2. Reusability and Reusable Design
What is reusability?
• The ability to use the same resource multiple times in
multiple ways and in multiple contexts.
• It can involve adapting or adopting a resource.
• Benefits include saving time and money for developers
and providing a greater variety of resources for learners.

3. Reusability and Reusable Design
Requirements for Reusability
Can it be identified?
Reusable
Does it work for me? May it be used?
Resource
Will it work?

4. Reusability and Reusable Design
Can a resource be identified?
• A resource can only be reused if people know it’s there.
• The search and discovery method is the most common way
people identify the resources they need.
• The crucial element of making search and discovery
successful is metadata. Developers should provide as much
metadata as possible.

5. Reusability and Reusable Design
5 Types of Metadata
• Basic descriptive metadata (bibliographic metadata): title, author,
subject, keywords, description, etc.
• Contextual metadata: learning objectives, target audience,
level of difficulty
• Rights metadata: copyright information, terms of use, permissions
contact information
• Technical metadata: platform requirements, software requirements,
format, and other structural information
• Usage Information: guides and other documentation

6. Reusability and Reusable Design
Metadata: ASCO University Item Bank
A 71-year-old patient has received treatment over the last 2 years for bone only metastatic infiltrating ductal cancer,
which is ER and PR positive. HER2 is negative. Her disease has previously progressed on anastrozole, and
subsequently fulvestrant. She now has new rib lesions, and her CA 27-29 has risen from 89 to 110 over the past 3
months. Mild pain is controlled by ibuprofen. The patient does not want chemotherapy, and after discussion tamoxifen
is started. Two weeks later, she calls over the weekend with increased pain in her back and ribs. Upon evaluation in the
clinic the following morning, her pain continues, and the CA 27-29 rises to 141.
Which of the following is the most appropriate course of action?
A. Change to exemestane
B. Start palliative chemotherapy
C. Consult radiation oncology for administration of samarium
D. Optimize pain control
Metadata: MOCBR / BR / MP / J
Product where item “lives” Disease area Subcategory Physician Task Code

7. Reusability and Reusable Design
Metadata: HBO on Demand
All Movies All Movies HD
Action Comedy
Drama Horror/Suspense
Kids Romance

8. Reusability and Reusable Design
Generating Metadata
• Automated metadata generation – software that supports the
development of a resource should be sophisticated enough to know and
record basic descriptive and contextual metadata
• Standards – several organizations have developed metadata standards
that allow digital libraries to record and keep track of contextual and
technical metadata
 Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
 Dublin Core Metadata Initiative
 Library of Congress
 Open Archives Initiative Protocol for Metadata Harvesting
 Metadata Research Center (MRC) UNC-Chapel Hill

9. Reusability and Reusable Design
May a resource be used?
• Digital resources are increasingly subject to intellectual property rights,
including patents, trade and service marks, and copyright.
• Copyright is used to protect the interests of developers who may
receive compensation from the sale of content. Copyright can also
prevent intended uses.
• Resource developers should do their best to grant appropriate
permissions in advance of releasing their content to users.

10. Reusability and Reusable Design
Granting Permissions
• The Creative Commons has developed licenses that convey a small set
of standard terms and conditions. The licenses comes with legal forms,
plain English forms, and forms for inclusion in a Web page or other
resource.
• These licenses can be used to grant a user the right to copy, modify, and
accredit a resource. They can also restrict the licensed use of a resource
to noncommercial purposes.
• To increase the reusability of a resource, developers should disseminate
their work under a license of this type.

11. Reusability and Reusable Design
Creative Commons
http://creativecommons.org

12. Reusability and Reusable Design
Creative Commons
http://creativecommons.org

13. Reusability and Reusable Design

14. Reusability and Reusable Design
Managing Rights
• Potential users must be able to see the restrictions and licenses, and
they must be supplied with the necessary information to request or
purchase further rights.
• This type of information can be embedded in standard metadata.
• Potential users be able to identify the rights holder so they know where
to ask for further permissions.

15. Reusability and Reusable Design
Will a resource work?
• Standards also exist to enhance the interoperability and cross-platform
compatibility of resources.
• These standards can be formal industry standards or simple formatting
standards that are widely available and accepted.
Formal Industry Standards Formatting Standards
IEEE Microsoft Word
SCORM Microsoft PowerPoint
IMS Global Learning Consortium PDF
FlashTM

16. Reusability and Reusable Design
Reusable Design
• The goal of reusable design is to develop content that can be used in as
many ways and in as many contexts as possible without forfeiting its
value and usefulness .
• Five layers should be considered when developing a resource for reuse:
1) Content
2) Context
3) Pedagogy
4) Structure
5) Presentation

17. Reusability and Reusable Design
Reusable Design: Content
• Content is at the heart of any learning resource.
• Content can be presented in different ways, and it will determine the
target audience. (How far reaching is the learning resource?)
• Resources should be designed within the constraints imposed by its
content.

18. Reusability and Reusable Design
Reusable Design: Context
• The context of a resource will determine how it will be used and
understood by a learner.
• Do not assume that the learning context will be the same for all
learners.
• To increase reusability of a resource:
 Remove cultural dependencies
 Ensure that external references are available online
 Follow Web accessibility guidelines
 Clarify any assumptions about terminology and notation
 Make the content available in multilingual versions

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Reusable Design: Pedagogy
• Resources should be created that do not require explicit pedagogical
approaches. In other words, do not design a resource for a single
setting or instructional strategy.
• A learning resource is more valuable and more reusable if it is designed
for as many pedagogical settings as possible.

20. Reusability and Reusable Design
Reusable Design: Structure
• Resources should be structured into learning objects, or self-contained
sections that address single learning objectives.
• The more a learning object is linked to another, the less reusable it
becomes. (Koohang, 2007)
• Structuring the physical and conceptual units of a resource into
independent sections will increase the likelihood of it being reused.

21. Reusability and Reusable Design
Reusable Design: Presentation
• Presentation is the overall look and feel of a learning resource.
• Presentation includes the fonts, color scheme, graphics, layout, sound
or video clips, and any other elements that are used to deliver the
resource.
• Presentation should always be completely detached from content.
Someone should be able to reuse the same content just by changing
“the skin.”

22. Reusability and Reusable Design
Conclusion
• Designing resources for reuse can be challenging, but if done correctly,
the benefits far outweigh the time and effort needed to produce them.
• Following the requirements for reuse has not become habit for most
instructional designers. Once the benefits become more apparent,
designing for reuse should become standard practice.

23. Reusability and Reusable Design
Information presented here is courtesy of
http://www.reusablelearning.org