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Reusable Learning Objects (RLOs)

All learning objects are reusable but some are more reusable than others. UCeL is a pragmatic and pioneering project, engaged in chalk-face action research on a national scale to actually find out what works in practice. So whilst we are aware that there is fierce debate as to what an RLO actually is, this is not really an issue for us. Definitions vary from any resource that can be used to support teaching and learning (true, but leading to unhelpful arguments as to whether a pencil constitutes an RLO) to whole online courses, which are large slabs of learning unlikely to be adopted by others for obvious practical reasons.

We have taken the pragmatic step of clearly defining a learning object as "an interactive web-based resource based on a single learning objective and comprising a stand-alone collection of 4 components: presentation, activity, assessment & links". We also state that for our purposes, RLOs must be digital resources, deliverable over the web.

We are also engaged in cutting-edge work on the next generation of leaerning objects. These are generative learning objects (GLOs) that can be adapted by local tutors to suit their individual teaching and learning needs. This makes them very powerful and you can find out more about their exciting and ongoing evolution in the GLOs section of the website.

The fact that UCeL RLOs are based on a single-learning objective is important because they are much more likely to be small, self-contained, stand alone, and therefore reusable. "Families" of RLOs can be linked to form larger chunks of learning, but the underlying UCeL message is "you can’t replace face-to-face". eLearning forms just one part (albeit an engaging one) of the learning mix. We try not to confuse distance learning and eLearning - these can be, but are not necessarily, the same thing. <previous | next >