What are learning objects and why they matter

When we talk about creating online content, especially if you work with an instructional designer, he or she will probably use the term "learning object" (or "educational object"). The term has a few definitions, but at its core it means any resource used to support instruction or the learner's learning process. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jk\_Fxt\_Dun4 That means this text you're reading and the video above are learning objects. In the same way, a multiple-choice exercise, a slide presentation or a drag-and-drop element are too. The way I like to explain it is this: the learning object is the most basic piece of teaching.

And why do they matter?

There is a line of thinking within instructional design focused on online content that argues the great advantage of learning objects is reuse. In other words, a digital resource could be used in one or more lessons or courses. There is a debate about whether that is really a major differentiator. But that probably doesn't matter to you. What I want you to know is that a learning object is the smallest part of your online content. They are the "bricks" that make up the big LEGO set that is your educational content. That's why a learning object tends not to fulfill the learning objective on its own, but to work together with others to fulfill it. Does that make sense? An instructional designer's job is to optimize the learning process by studying efficient ways to teach. You can be an excellent course planner and create beautiful syllabi. But if you don't know how to design effective objects, your content will probably be of little use. And I've seen many designers fall into this trap: they do amazing, well-grounded research but don't spend as much time designing the objects. That leaves a lot of room to stand out.