This Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) that examines how Open Educational Resources (OER), in general, and Learning Objects (LO), specifically, are constructed, discovered, exchanged, and reused in education and training instructional design. OERs are defined as “educational resources (lesson plans, quizzes, syllabi, instructional modules, simulations, etc.) that are freely available for use, reuse, adaptation, and sharing.“ Though there is still no consensus, for the purposes of this MOOC, Learning Objects are OERs that are "small, reusable chunks of instructional media” and defined broadly as “any entity, digital or non-digital, which can be used, re-used or referenced during technology supported learning” (Wiley 2000). These objects can range from individual digital images and small bits of text to “larger reusable digital resources include entire web pages that combine text, images and other media or applications to deliver complete experiences, such as a complete instructional event” (Wiley, 2000).

MOOCs were born out of the open education movement that promotes open access to open educational resources and seeks to remove geographic, demographic, and economic barriers to learning. They are an extension of online and distance learning approaches and have great potential to provide free access to high quality education using cutting edge technologies to people all over the world.

This MOOC is geared towards educators, trainers, students, instructional designers, eLearning developers, graphic designers, multimedia specialists, and anyone interested in understanding the landscape of open source content with specific emphasis on open learning objects or OERs. Educators may be involved in distributed learning in online and hybrid/blended formats as well as traditional instruction in face-to-face classes. A vast majority of you will be interested in integrating Learning Objects into your curriculums. Some of you may be students wishing to locate open resources to study. We hope you will find what you need as well as explore new concepts in open education.

Please review the Pre-Course Orientation and proceed to Week 1.

Enjoy the adventure!

Introduction

Welcome to OER & Learning Objects for Instruction MOOC!

The Learning Experience

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Introducing the Facilitators

The OER & Learning Objects for Instruction MOOC provides an accessible, flexible approach that is designed to balance opportunities for participants to receive information via videos and text, exchange ideas with colleagues, learn from leaders in the field, work on their own plans, and share resources. This MOOC incorporates the following design principles:Authentic project based learning in which participants work on plans for their own practice or areas of expertise.

Self-directed learning, so that participants personalize their own goals, select resources that are most relevant to their goals and approach to learning, and determine their own level of engagement in each part of the course.
Participation by individuals to support the needs of all participants depending upon their local context and roles.
Peer supported learning that enables participants to learn from each other through engagement in online discussions, blog magazine, and sharing of recommended resources.
Case study approaches to build upon examples of best practices.
Data informed activities that enable participants to use existing data and collect new data to inform their work during the OER & Learning Objects for Instruction MOOC and thereafter.
Anytime, anyplace learning in which Participants can engage as their time allows, from anywhere they have web access via a computer, tablet or smartphone. Their personal experience as an online learner can inform participants about the potential of digital learning to improve learner engagement and achievement.
Crowd-sourcing to gather resources, evaluate ideas, tag and rate materials, and stimulate ideas and reflections.
Support for exploration by encouraging participants to propose new ideas, look at issues in new ways, consider new approaches and use new technologies, all within a supportive context.

The above text is a derivative work from the MOOC-Ed: Digital Learning Transitions course at: http://www.mooc-ed.org/dlt2/experience.html.

Open Education for Educators

Welcome to OER & Learning Objects for Instruction MOOC!

Introducing the Facilitators

Your Account

This Course