A Pedagogical Approach to the Design of Learning Objects for Complex Domains

In this article we describe an appr oach to the design of learning objects (LOs) suitable to sup -port learning in complex domains. W e briesy discuss, from an educational point of view , the methodological choices underlying the design of LOs to be used as didactical materials in a distributed W eb-based envir onment, pr esently under development , devoted to robotics education at the university level. W e show how our pedagogical appr oach to knowledge acquisition and to the use of technological tools is realised by means of didactical units which can be imple -mented as LOs with various aims and corr espondingly differ ent structur es. W e also addr ess the issue of supporting studentsO learning in ways that differ accor ding to the requir ements of each situation and illustrate how such support can be implemented by means of our pedagogically oriented LOs.K eyw ords: e-learning; instructional m aterial; telelearning; technology enhanced learning

[1]  P. Pintrich The role of motivation in promoting and sustaining self-regulated learning , 1999 .

[2]  Rosemary Griffith LEARNING OBJECTS IN HIGHER EDUCATION , 2003 .

[3]  Brian J. Reiser,et al.  Scaffolding Complex Learning: The Mechanisms of Structuring and Problematizing Student Work , 2004, The Journal of the Learning Sciences.

[4]  Scott D. Reid Narrowing the Focus: Reflection and Choice , 2006 .

[5]  Jennifer Masters,et al.  Teacher Scaffolding: An Exploration of Exemplary Practice , 2004, Education and Information Technologies.

[6]  D. Ausubel The psychology of meaningful verbal learning. , 1963 .

[7]  Giuliana Dettori,et al.  Guidelines towards Effectively Sharable LOs , 2004, ICWL.

[8]  Pierre Dillenbourg,et al.  Collaborative Learning: Cognitive and Computational Approaches , 1999 .

[9]  Mary Malcolm The exercise of the object: issues in resource reusability and reuse , 2005, Br. J. Educ. Technol..

[10]  D. Jonassen,et al.  A Manifesto for a Constructivist Approach to Uses of Technology in Higher Education , 1993 .

[11]  Valentina Zangrando,et al.  Teaching and Learning with Virtual Teams , 2007 .

[12]  A. Bandura Social learning theory , 1977 .

[13]  Paul Brett Staff Using an Institution - Wide VLE for Blended E-Learning: Implications of Student Views , 2006 .

[14]  Päivi Häkkinen,et al.  Is successful scaffolding an illusion? – Shifting patterns of responsibility and control in teacher-student interaction during a long-term learning project , 2003 .

[15]  Pru Cuper,et al.  Video Analysis as a Reflective Tool: Providing Pre-Service Teachers a Gradual-Replay Lens on their Developing Practice , 2007 .

[16]  Ina Fourie Selected Styles in Web‐based Educational Research , 2007 .

[17]  Douglas J. Hacker,et al.  Metacognition in educational theory and practice. , 1998 .

[18]  J. Bruner Toward a Theory of Instruction , 1966 .

[19]  Tommaso Leo,et al.  Robot control designer education on the Web , 2004, IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation, 2004. Proceedings. ICRA '04. 2004.

[20]  Joseph Krajcik,et al.  An Investigation of Software Scaffolds Supporting Modeling Practices , 2002 .

[21]  Joseph D. Novak,et al.  Meaningful learning: The essential factor for conceptual change in limited or inappropriate propositional hierarchies leading to empowerment of learners , 2002 .

[22]  J. Bruner,et al.  The role of tutoring in problem solving. , 1976, Journal of child psychology and psychiatry, and allied disciplines.

[23]  Lev Vygotsky Mind in society , 1978 .

[24]  Susan M. Land,et al.  Theoretical Foundations of Learning Environments. , 1999 .

[25]  N. Friesen Three objections to learning objects , 2004 .

[26]  Allison Littlejohn,et al.  Reusing Online Resources: A Sustainable Approach to E-Learning , 2003 .

[27]  Giuliana Dettori,et al.  Devising a Typology of LOs Based on Pedagogical Assumptions , 2005, ICWL.

[28]  Paola Forcheri,et al.  Repositories of learning objects as learning environments for teachers , 2004, IEEE International Conference on Advanced Learning Technologies, 2004. Proceedings..