The Effectiveness of Learning Objects

An Exploratory Study into the Efficacy of Learning Objects, by Nicholas W. Farha
http://www.thejeo.com/Archives/Volume6Number2/FarhaPaper.pdf

Nicholas W. Farha’s article An Exploratory Study into the Efficacy of Learning Objects discusses his research comparing the learning outcomes while using learning objects and traditional textbook-based instruction. A learning object is a learning resource that is digital and multimedia based and is reusable. According to the research, the learning objects were more effective.

Unfortunately, the author does not give an example of a learning object. In reading the article I am assuming a good example would be a lesson I experienced in an online course in which the participants were supposed to learn how canal locks work, the vocabulary associated with them and the sequence that each function has to take place. A pre- and post-test were given and the lesson was interactive and the participants “played around” with visual model. It was a fun way to learn about canals. I had actually read a book about canals around 7 years ago and thought I already knew the basics, but answered several of the pre-test questions incorrectly. The online learning object was more memorable than the book I read.