Reusing the Learning Objects in e-Universities

One of the most common and often heard discussion in the e-Learning circles is about the 'reusability' of learning objects. What is very essential to understand in this debate/discussion is the real and achievable end that we'd like to reach. The talks, though start with a lot of enthusiasm, mostly reach a dead-end at a specific topic -- how to reuse?

CISCO has done a lot of work that they have shared with the community at large that gives a wonderful primer on the subject. However, their writings, research and recommendations are centered at learning objects that are developed either for corporate training purposes and/or commercial purposes. Contrary to this, my primary concern is the development of learning objects for use in Higher Education Institutions set ups like e-Universities (that deliver their education offerings over the Internet).




Addressing the following questions is an essential first step to gain clarity and direction.

1. How to reuse the existing learning objects or how to make the existing learning objects reusable?
   
2. Are there special Instructional Design considerations to be made to have (readily) reusable learning objects in an e-University? What are they?



3. Does the pedagogical approach impact the learning objects?



4. Can Connectivism (proposed learning theory for digital age) be the answer to distance learning/blended learning system in Higher Education Institutions?

One of the strong points for my argument is that the concept of learning objects and their reuse is of less utility while in the university level education. Taking an example of a program that is offered in a university would give us more insight. typically, a program that a learner selects comprises of several courses that are core and some electives. Further still, let us assume that the learner has enrolled for a program -- Bachelors in Quality Management. Within this program the learner would be required to take courses like:

• Quality Management Systems


• Fundamentals of TQM (Total Quality Management)


• Quality Assurance

When we breakdown each course from an Instructional Design view point, we'd arrive at a handful of learning objects for each. Reusability of each individual learning object is something that needs to be addressed now. How and where do we reuse the learning object remains a challenge. Except while we are revising the course ware on lapse of a certain time period or when the information contained in the learning object appears to be redundant. Beyond this, where is the reuse of the learning is something that needs critical thinking and answers need to be explored and methods need to be devised to make any sense of the whole talk that circumambulates the Reusable Learning Object debate.