1) The goal was to build a Moodle course using three Learning Objects from LORN, but navigation and missing resources posed problems initially. 2) Uploading the Learning Objects as IMS files rather than SCORM resolved some issues, but testing revealed confusing navigation and essential resources were missing. 3) These problems were solved by creating a "Resources" page that indexed all critical resources with hyperlinks, whether in the original Learning Objects or added separately. This ensured users could easily find everything needed.

1. EmbeddingToolbox Learning Objectsin aMoodle Course Some of the challenges and how to deal with them

2. What we wanted… The goal was to build a Moodle course based around three Learning Objects downloaded from LORN. These were three units that had been separated out of the Certificate IV in Training and Assessment Toolbox.

3. The steps we took… Check suitability of the Learning ObjectsThey not only suited the purpose in that they were project based, but initial consultation with SAMFS training staff revealed that the actual examples used were ideal for our client group! No contextualisation would be necessary. Upload / embed LO’s to Moodle Our first problem was encountered here. Initially, they were added as SCORM objects and some of the navigation arrows and buttons didn’t work. After much discussion including the thought that we would have to disaggregate the Learning Objects after all, we uploaded them as IMS objects. The offending arrows and problems disappeared. We still don’t know why! Create a user friendly front end To provide a simple user interface and to allow ease of navigation, we designed a ‘contextualised’ first page with very few words and 5 clearly labelled buttons.

5. Introductory information Link to full qualification Links to the three units Additional resources

6. The problems begin… NavigationOur first bench test of the Moodle draft site failed to detect some serious issues here. More thorough trialling, well down the track unfortunately, revealed that the 3 key learning objects, due to their separation from the Toolbox, had confusing or even misleading navigation in many places. This would be a significant issue for our first time users, some of whom were computer novices. Missing resourcesThe other serious problem was that some essential resources were found to be missing from the relevant learning objects (eg the ‘Guide for Planning and Organising Assessment’ was not in that unit at all). We were running out of time - the start date approached!

7. Solutions found… Both problems were solved simultaneously Essentially, resources had to be there AND users had to be able to find them! This was achieved by using the “Resources” button on the front page. All critical resources (whether they were part of the three embedded Learning Objects, or not) were added to a Resources ‘index’ so that participants had a foolproof way of finding anything they needed. Every resource embedded in the LO’s or uploaded separately to the Moodle has its own unique URL address. So, it was a matter of creating a book of links categorised into general and contextualised resources. See screen shots in the following slides.

9. All essential resources were included on this page with their respective hyperlinks. This list includes links to within the toolbox LO’s as well as links to other Books of resources (eg SAMFS internal assessment tools are included in a separate ‘Book’)

10. Contextualised resources … SAMFS specific resources

11. Some links were to resourcesinside the Learning Objects …

12. Problem solved … Although this ‘fix’ was less than ideal, it proved an excellent solution given the time constraints involved! Even the least computer confident participants knew that every resource could be accessed via the Resources Button (which they could always find!).Had we known the severity of the problems earlier, and had more people resources available on the team, the best solution would have been to ‘unpack’ the Learning Objects themselves, adding resources, correcting navigation, deleting superfluous information and dead end links. This was considered in our earliest meetings but the appropriateness of the LO examples meant that we decided it was unnecessary.In this case, if the TAA qualification hadn’t also been changing, we would probably have also combined the three LO’s into one holistic project based resource.

13. Tip No1 for next time… ALWAYS thoroughly check AND ‘bench test’ any Learning Object to be embedded in an LMS or sent out on a CDROM!Don’t assume that, because the front few pages and/or first few resources all work, that the WHOLE package will have been quality checked to the same level of detail!This is especially important when the Learning Resource is from a disaggregated Toolbox. Navigation and resources that worked fine in the original Toolbox will need to be have been carefully modified to work in a standalone unit / learning object.

14. In conclusion…(Yes, it really is the last slide! ) We hope that our lessons will help others to avoid the problems and/or use the same quick fix methods in other settingsHowever, we must not finish on the problems with our project. As emphasised elsewhere, the benefits to TAFESA and SAMFS training personnel AND the course participants far outweigh the challenges mentioned in this slideshow! Already, dramatic increases in motivation and skill levels are creating a significant ripple effect in several areas outside the immediate project team… well worth a few more grey hairs!