Session 14 - Learning Objects

As I read the information on the learning object model, it does seem to share many similar characteristic with the object orientated (OO) software design methodology. The OO design methodology is currently used heavily in the computer software design field. Creating small reusable objects / components are the key to any good OO program. When an object become too large, than its reuse is limited. The black box approach to object design is critical to good OO objects. When you write a program in C++ there is an object library with thousands of defined objects that you can use to develop what ever program you want. The nice thing about object library's, is designers do not have to reinvent the wheel every time a new program is needed. With that in mind, I think the OO idea can be applied to web based instructional design. The challenge is that most C++ objects return some type of data value. The idea of passing instruction content out of learning object will be a little more challenging. I can see this approach requiring highly skilled instructional content design developers, to create reusable instructional content objects.

I feel designing learning objects will be quite complex in their design and thus would take lots of time to build correctly. This approach is well past the proficiency of the average teacher. Creating the learning objects is only half the challenge. How the objects are integrated in a web-based instructional program, will be the true challenging.

Session 13 - Cognitive Flexibility Theory

As I read the information on the cognitive flexibility model, it does seem to have similar characteristic with case based learning and other learning models. Cognitive flexibility theory is also based on using real world cases as part of its model. Analyzing cases that have different perspectives and contexts, can help students engage their higher order thinking and reasoning skills. These skills do require that you already have some basic knowledge to call upon. With that in mind, I also think this model would be more effective in the upper grade levels. That is not to say, they would not work in the elementary grade levels. I feel it will be challenging and time consuming to build and teach base-skills in the cognitive flexibility model, in the elementary grade level.

I feel these models are quite complex in their design and thus would take lots of time to build correctly. I am not sure how proficient the average teacher would be at building online lessons for this model. It almost sounds like design teams would be needed to help ensure the model is adhered to correctly.

Overall, I think this model is good at helping students learn, based on real world situations that are presented using different perspectives and contexts. This model can help students to be more prepared to make critical and effective decisions in the real world.

Session 12 - Case Based Learning

As I read the information on the Case Based Learning model, it does seem to have this umbrella characteristic. It seems that you can include many of the previous instructional models under it. For example, problem based learning and cooperative learning do fit nicely under a case based learning umbrella. I feel that the case based model is an approach to learning that involves applying critical thinking and reasoning skills. These skills do require that you already have basic knowledge to call upon. With this in mind, I think this model can be used more effectively in the upper grade levels. I feel it is hard to teach phonic, addition, basic grammar, and other base skill in a case based learning model in the elementary grade level. Case based reasoning skills do require a person to have a functioning set of basic skills.

Since case based learning involves real world cases, does this bring up any intellectual and personal privacy rights? Would the average citizen mind having their personal finance history used in a college case study on financial bankruptcy?

I can see case based learning taking a lot of time to develop. I think it would be very important to use critically designed guiding questions to help the students find all the areas in the case where critical decisions were made. This also bring up the question as to how do we assess case based learning. I can see case based learning as having sometimes very subjective conclusions. There are many ways and solution to real world problems. How do we know the students have discovered the most appropriate one?

Overall, I think this model is good at helping students learn, based on real world situations. This model can help students to be more prepared to make appropriate and critical decisions in the real world, where they have to live and prosper.