Modeling the characteristics of a learning object for use within e-learning applications

Educational content plays a significant role in the process of delivering knowledge, that's why it needs to be designed carefully, following designated principles. Learning Objects (LOs) constitute a novel approach in the educational content's organization, bearing features that if effectively used could lead to enhanced e-learning services. What is missing from literature, though, is a common agreement about the LO's attributes and structure. For this reason, we initially try to specify the main characteristics of a LO and determine its functionality, especially in the context of distance education. Having realized its fundamental role in the instructional design process, we make explicit its correlation with educational objectives and other aspects of learning. Finally, in an attempt to capture all LO's characteristics and make them utilizable by e-learning applications, we propose a metadata schema, reflecting all features of a LO, as described in this work.