Digital Learning Objects Research Articles

Evaluation of a digital learning object (DLO) to support the learning process in radiographic dental diagnosis.

Studies have shown that inappropriate therapeutic strategies may be adopted if crown and root changes are misdiagnosed, potentially leading to undesirable consequences. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate a digital learning object, developed to improve skills in diagnosing radiographic dental changes. The object was developed using the Visual Basic Application (VBA) software and evaluated by 62 undergraduate students (male: 24 and female: 38) taking an imaging diagnosis course. Participants were divided in two groups: test group, which used the object and control group, which attended conventional classes. After 3 weeks, students answered a 10-question test and took a practice test to diagnose 20 changes in periapical radiographs. The results show that test group performed better that control group in both tests, with statistically significant difference (P=0.004 and 0.003, respectively). In overall, female students were better than male students. Specific aspects of object usability were assessed using a structured questionnaire based on the System Usability Scale (SUS), with a score of 90.5 and 81.6 by male and female students, respectively. The results obtained in this study suggest that students who used the DLO performed better than those who used conventional methods. This suggests that the DLO may be a useful teaching tool for dentistry undergraduates, on distance learning courses and as a complementary tool in face-to-face teaching.

USO DE OBJETOS DE APRENDIZAGEM DIGITAL PARA FLEXIBILIZAR O CONHECIMENTO E POTENCIALIZAR A AUTONOMIA DO APRENDIZADO NO ENSINO DA EDUCAÇÃO AMBIENTAL

Despite the importance of environmental education (EE) in formal education, it is still weak in teaching practice and much contingent on the use of technology. Thus, this study aims to evaluate the contribution and on the potential use of digital learning objects in teaching environmental education, involving elementary school students of the Colégio Franciscano Sagrado Coração de Jesus, in Arroio do Tigre city. The technology use can result in several contributions to education, such as: student autonomy in the learning process and their inclusion in the digital world. The learning objects propose the use of digital awareness activities through the use of technology with virtual practical activities related to environmental issues, sustainability, fashion, consumerism and waste. Starting from a premise location, but not leaving consider the environment in its multiple aspects, with a broad range of regional and global, was applied to calculate the carbon footprint and environmental education videos built to be virtually spread social networks and Youtube.

CONTRIBUIÇÃO DO OBJETO DIGITAL DE APRENDIZAGEM “FUTSAL RIVED” NO PROCESSO DE ENSINO-APRENDIZAGEM DE EDUCAÇÃO FÍSICA

This study aims to evaluate the contribution of a digital learning object (ODA) in the teaching and learning process of students of Physical Education. The methodology used was a qualitative research with action. The ODA used was "Futsal RIVED" which presents a pedagogical proposal for teaching the fundaments of soccer. It was held the interactivity and exploration of ODA individually and in groups where it was analyzed, discussed, explored according to the proposed goals. It is concluded that the technologies applied in education as teaching resources acquire functions to help in the teaching-learning process bringing new views and different ways of learning.

A digital learning object for teaching human embryology: version 2 of Embryon (725.13)

Learning human embryology is very important in the understanding of congenital anomalies, in the development of accurate diagnoses, and in the construction of effective treatment plans to address congenital anomalies. However, addressing concepts in human embryology can be difficult in medical and dental student populations with different learning styles and different levels of prior knowledge. Here, we have incorporated prior focus group, curricular implementation, and student learning data into an existing digital interactive educational module designed to teach human facial development to pre‐clinical medical and dental students. This second version addresses issues in interface, interactivity, and content of the initial learning object that were considered detrimental to learning during analyses of the initial version. In addition, active learning assessment has been incorporated into the learning object in the form of short quizzes and internal data tracking. Focus group analysis, limited implementation data, and learning assessment analysis are examined to determine the efficacy of the learning object in student learning and retention of human embryology content.

DIDACTIC ANALYSIS OF THE WEB ACID-BASE TITRATION SIMULATIONS APPLIED IN PRE-GRADUATE CHEMISTRY TEACHERS EDUCATION

The wide development of the information and communication technologies provides conditions for using various digital learning objects in education. In Chemistry learning and teaching computer simulations are used for increasing clearness in Chemistry lessons and for supporting experimental activities in laboratory work. For this analysis the topic of acid-base titration was chosen. The research sample included educational simulations of acid-base titration available free on the Internet. In total 35 educational simulations of acid-base titration were found and used for didactic analysis with following research questions: What can be learned from educational simulations of acid-base titration? and How can didactic analysis of different kinds of simulation help to teacher and learner? In the research results of didactic analysis of 35 examples of acid-base titration simulators are presented. Resulting from the analysis we find three different types of educational simulations of acid-base titration with a specific use in Chemistry lessons: (1) simulations of experiments; (2) generators of titration curves according to the user’s choice; (3) presentations of one titration. The summary of all analysed simulations and proposals of their educational applications is available from the web site http://titrace.wz.cz. Key words: acid-base titration, chemistry instruction, didactic analysis, educational simulation.

ConfChem Conference: A Virtual Colloquium to Sustain and Celebrate IYC 2011 Initiatives in Global Chemical Education: Visualizing and Understanding the Science of Climate Change

An International Year of Chemistry legacy project to highlight connections between chemistry and sustainability is described. The project consists of nine critically reviewed, interactive, Web-based modules (digital learning objects) at the Web site explainingclimatechange.com to help students visualize and understand the underlying science of climate change while making connections to chemistry curriculum. The target audiences are (a) teachers and students at the secondary and first-year tertiary levels and (b) chemistry professionals. This communication summarizes one of the invited papers to the ConfChem online conference A Virtual Colloquium to Sustain and Celebrate IYC 2011 Initiatives in Global Chemical Education held from May 18 to June 28, 2012 and jointly hosted by the ACS DivCHED Committee on Computers in Chemical Education and the IUPAC Committee on Chemistry Education.

Desafios da inclusão: uma proposta para a qualificação de docentes no Ensino Superior via tecnologias digitais

As universidades são historicamente conhecidas por serem instituições elitistas e meritocráticas. Porém, nos anos 90, políticas de expansão do Ensino Superior brasileiro modificaram o perfil dos estudantes, tornando premente a questão da qualificação dos docentes. Este artigo relata a construção de um objeto digital de aprendizagem concebido com o objetivo de promover reflexão sobre a inclusão, contribuir para uma mudança na forma como os docentes percebem a diversidade e para a ressignificação da prática docente. Foi desenvolvido inicialmente com foco na inclusão de estudantes surdos. O objeto de aprendizagem, intitulado Incluir, procura conciliar aspectos técnicos e pedagógicos a fim de concretizar uma metodologia reflexiva e problematizadora, de base interacionista.Palavras-chaveObjeto de aprendizagem; Inclusão; Ensino Superior; Surdez

Effects of Virtual Manipulatives on Student Achievement and Mathematics Learning

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Involving a young person in the development of a digital resource in nurse education

Health policies across western societies have embedded the need for service user and carer perspectives in service design and delivery of educational programmes. There is a growing recognition of the need to include the perspectives of children and young people as service users in the design and delivery of child focused educational programmes. Digital storytelling provides a strategy for student nurses to gain insight into the lived experiences of children and young people. Engaging with these stories enables students to develop an understanding of a young persons' experience of healthcare. This paper outlines a project that developed a digital learning object based upon a young person's experience of cancer and student evaluations of the digital learning object as a teaching and learning strategy. Over 80% of students rated the digital learning object as interesting and were motivated to explore its content. In addition, the evaluation highlighted that listening to the young person's experiences of her treatment regimes was informative and assisted understanding of a patients' perspective of care delivery.

Usage of digital learning object about breast cancer in primary health care

This study evaluated the digital learning object about breast cancer in primary health care. This is a cross-sectional study non-compared, executed at a Health center in the south of Brazil with 16 members of a climacteric group. The population of study shows average of 63 years old. It was applied, adapted and structured questionnaire and group interview with a focus. Firstly, the members were enabled to use the computer, then applied and evaluated the learning object. In the results found, agreement scores between 8.5 and 10 for content, usability and didactic, considered satisfactory. The results of the interview was categorized in “use of computer”, “information access”, “material about breast cancer”; the group declared: satisfied with the object, interested about “breast cancer” and motivated to self-care. Concluded that this software can be a tool for practice of health professionals, and obtained higher goals, when the proposed was exchange the knowledge, health promotion, digital inclusion and the ways to use the health informatics.

Funny things happen at the Grange: Introducing comedy activities in day services to older people with dementia – innovative practice

This paper shares outcomes from the evaluation of a community project where comedy activities were introduced into a day centre for older people with dementia as a result of a partnership between the day centre, a local university and a specialist comedy provider. Four workshops were provided using improvisatory activities and comedy, as a medium to engage older people in reflecting on aspects of their care environment. The main output resulted in a 30 minute 'mockumentary' of the 'Her Majesty the Queen' visiting the day centre, in the form of a digital reusable learning object to be used by social work and mental health professionals. The evaluation demonstrated some additional outcomes for those involved and highlighted the benefits of laughter and fun in promoting a positive climate.

&lt;B&gt;Objetos educacionais digitais para a saúde da mulher&lt;/B&gt; - DOI:10.3395/reciis.v6i2.605pt

The use of educational materials in the area of Nursing is a resource that supports classroom learning and at the same time respects the autonomy of the student. In order to develop motivating materials that could complement the teaching in the area of women's health seven digital learning objects were developed, four hypertext, a quiz and two simulations. The pedagogical framework of learning, problem-based and interactionist constructivism, were employed in the design of materials. Developed digital materials add hypertext, video and animation through software like Macromedia Flash MX ® and ® CS3, and image editors such as Fireworks ® and videos as Windows Movie Maker ® by offering large animated features and interaction. Hypertext, made available in the virtual learning environment Moodle ®, explore the themes from previous knowledge to contribute to its understanding to indications of further reading and review exercises. Simulations enable virtual implementation of the procedures by students. It is hoped that this report to share with the scientific community experiences with regard to the production of digital learning objects as well as the achievements and challenges that permeate this work by encouraging the use of alternative technologies in teaching.

Honorable Mention for CNUR816: Health Assessment at Ryerson University

This article provides an overview of the digital learning objects created to address the need for

Digital learning object repositories

PurposeThis paper aims to provide an overview of the issues related to developing a digital repository for learning objects. Given the unique nature of digital learning objects, compared to other types of digital materials, several factors must be considered when establishing a learning object repository.Design/methodology/approachThe conclusions of the paper are drawn from a review of the current state of the learning object repository market.FindingsThe issues related to creating digital learning object repositories are, in some cases, significantly different from those in creating “traditional” digital repositories. Staffing, metadata, and use considerations must be carefully considered in this unique environment.Originality/valueThis paper fills a gap in the current literature by providing a general overview of the current state of software and related practices in the learning object repository area.

Evaluation of the Digital Learning Object Taking Care of the Sensory Environment in Neonatal Units: Noise, Light and Handling

To assist in the education of professionals about the stressful environment of the neonatal unit, a digital learning object (DLO) was developed on the Internet. Objective: To evaluate the content and appearance of the DLO. Material and methods: The evaluation of DLO was carried out by health professionals and nursing students from the neonatal units of a university hospital in Ribeirao Preto, state of Sao Paulo, Brazil. During a three-month period, a computer was available in neonatal units and health professionals and students could use the DLO without restraint. Results: Five health professionals and five students answered a questionnaire and many of the items received concepts of agree and strongly agree from more than 70% of the evaluators, thus being considered adequate.

Impact of the Use of a Digital Learning Object in the Teaching of Clinical Assessment of Preterm Infants: A Comparative Study

This study aimed to assess the cognitive learning of undergraduate nursing students on the clinical assessment of the preterm infants aided by the use of a digital learning object (DLO) linked to the Internet compared to the traditional classroom method. Material and methods: the experimental study was carried out with groups of nursing students from a Brazilian public university, separated into control and experimental groups, in which the first participated in classes taught in a traditional way and the latter had access to the DLO. Data analysis was based on the results of statistical tests of pre and post-tests. Results and discussion: there was no statistically significant difference between groups (p>0.05), however, it was documented, based on subjective assessment, a high level of satisfaction with the use of the educational technology and interest in the dissemination of the strategy to other themes and moments of the course.

A Tool to Evaluate the Level of Inclusion of Digital Learning Objects

Inclusive learning integrates pedagogical and technological variables. It means to adapt to students according to their characteristics (personal, physical, cognitive, social…), needs and interests. With the aim of evaluating the level of inclusion of digital learning objects we have developed a questionnaire that collects information about pedagogical and technological aspects that promote or discourage inclusion. Features like the pedagogical model, function of activities, type of assessment, multimedia resources, human-computer interaction, accessibility and usability criteria, etc. are variables that impact in the level of inclusion of educational objects and items that have been included in the questionnaire. This is the second version of the tool, refined with the conclusions obtained from the application of the draft version to more than 50 learning objects developed under the funding and supervision of the Basque Government. These objects are available under Creative Commons license in the Agrega web page of the Education Department, and represent the style and characteristics of more than 350 objects.

Annotation tool for enhancing e-learning courses

One of the most popular forms of learning is through reading and for years we have used hard copy documents as the main material to learn. With the advent of the Internet and the fast development of new technologies, new tools have been developed to assist the learning process. However, reading is still the main learning method that is an individual activity. In this paper we propose a highlighting tool that enables the reading and learning process to become a collaborative and shared activity. In other words, the highlighting tool supports the so-called active-reading, a well-known and efficient means of learning. The highlighting tool brings to the digital environment the same metaphor of the traditional highlight marker and puts it in a social context. It enables users to emphasize certain portions of digital learning objects. Furthermore, it provides students, tutors, course coordinators and educational institutions new possibilities in the teaching and learning process. In this work we expose the first quantitative and qualitative results regarding the use of the highlight tool by over 750 students through 8 weeks of courses.

Evaluating the effectiveness of digital learning objects: Student perspectives and issues of design

The changing characteristics of the student body in British higher education require institutions to become flexible in their use of educational material. The opportunities offered by the rapid emergence and adoption of digital forms of delivery have been embraced and offer one response to this need for flexibility. This study reports an attempt to isolate and evaluate the educational benefits offered by different sorts of digital learning using focus groups of students. The findings suggest that learning objects are popular and effective, and that single-medium objects (audiofiles), in particular, enjoy a high frequency and flexibility of use. There are, however, indications that the use of digital materials leads to strategies of learning that may isolate students.

Digital content creation: A global view on curriculum design

Digital content creation: A global view on curriculum design