Reusable content matters: a learning object authoring tool for smart learning environments

Mehmet Ali Çinici,Arif Altun

doi:10.1186/s40561-018-0060-3

Mehmet Ali Çinici, Arif Altun

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s40561-018-0060-3

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Abstract

This study reports the design and evaluation process of an authoring tool that is developed for content developers and/or instructors to be able to reuse and repackage existing learning objects (LOs) according to existing instructional needs. The evaluation process included the usability and efficiency of this authoring tool with a sample group of 20 students working at the time of study through their master and/or doctoral degrees in the department of computer education and instructional technologies at a college of education. Tasks in the study included determining instructional needs, searching LOs in various repositories, and repackaging existing LOs by repurposing them. Finally, both quantitative and qualitative data were collected to assess the efficiency and the effectiveness of the tool by soliciting users’ experiences. As a result of the study, it was determined that this tool is a practical content development and packaging tool for content developers and/or instructors. Suggestions concerning properties of similar authoring tools are reported and discussed as to reusability in various smart learning environments (SLE) by organizing content based on various instructional needs.

Highlights

Smart learning environments (SLEs) utilize a range of digital technologies in supporting learning, education and training and provide a prominent signpost for how future learning environments might be shaped (Hoel and Mason 2018)
The results yielded that the highest score was on the interface-process performance and the lowest was on error messages and technical sufficiency sub-factors, indicating that the tool met the participants’ expectations but needed to be improved in terms of handling the error messages
This paper investigated the potential of an authoring tool within the context of smart learning environments (SLE)

Summary

Introduction

Smart learning environments (SLEs) utilize a range of digital technologies in supporting learning, education and training and provide a prominent signpost for how future learning environments might be shaped (Hoel and Mason 2018). SLEs could be seen as learning environments that are considerably improved to promote better and faster learning (Koper 2014). The driving desire behind the SLEs movement is to transform learning and instruction in productive and desirable ways. A SLE might include features to promote engagement, effectiveness and efficiency (Spector 2014). As technology continues to evolve, SLEs and the components used in these environments are receiving growing attention from the research community. In this context, the concept of a Learning Object (LO) has attracted the attention of educators and software engineers since 1994 when it was used by Wayne Hodgins. The overall purpose of developing LOs was to create

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