About
Learning Objects At Brock:
Instructors
at Brock are exploring new ways to teach concepts that
have proven difficult in conventional classroom environments.
Through a partnership between CTLET and ITS, Brock has
been working with interested faculty to produce learning
objects to enhance teaching with internet based technology.
Learning objects are computer based teaching tools that
help students understand a specific concept and are intended
to be both modular and self contained.
At
Brock this means that learning objects are developed by
our team of students employed as Learning
Technology Developers (LTDs). The objects are created
within a web-based program called Flash. LTDs work with
the faculty member as the content specialist to create
an interactive teaching tool. Learning objects can be
used within WebCT, in smart classrooms, or almost any
other electronic environment thanks to the flexibility
of Flash.
As
demonstrated at Brock’s recent Learning
with Technology conference, an exciting collection
of learning objects have been created with instructors
from a wide variety of disciplines at Brock. Objects that
have been completed include “The
Monty Hall Dilemma,” based on the classic game
show Let’s Make a Deal. Prof. David DiBattista from
the Department of Psychology uses this object to teach
the complexities of statistical concepts. Prof. John Middleton
from the Centre for the Environment worked with Giulia
Forsyth of the LTD team to create an
object that can predict global climate changes based upon
input students can manipulate. One ongoing project
that will be useful to all instructors at Brock is the
development of a
suite of learning objects designed to teach instructors
and students about plagiarism. Prof. Jon Radue from
COSC has been helping to create an object that demonstrates
how to properly paraphrase a paragraph in order to employ
proper source recognition.
All
faculty who wish to develop digital resources to assist
with a particular educational bottleneck are invited to
contact CTLET. If
you have any questions about learning objects at Brock
in general please contact us.
