Terminology October 23, 2009
Posted by AngelaTrikic in : Comms , trackbackThe comments about terminology highlighted in the report of the development and implementation meeting below raise issues about how we communicate as well as what words we choose.
This has prompted me to consider how to translate the excellent functional specification document produced by the Requirements Analysis Workpackage into guidance about how to publish to the LOR. This guidance will be targeted at academics.
I’m wondering whether to use the term educational resource(s) in preference to learning object(s) as staff will relate and understand this term. The project team has used the term Learning Objects because this is the term used traditionally in the parlance of object oriented system development. It’s also the case that the repository located in the VLE is described as a Learning Object Repository and this is terminology used in the existing documentation.
Another factor to consider is that we are operating within the JISC Information Environment programme and here the language is about Educational Resources or Open Educational Resources (OER), which is the direction we’re heading. There has been a not so subtle dropping of the term, objects, in this stream of work and those of you who remember the debates on defining LOs in the 80’s won’t be sorry to see its demise. Presumably we’re learning to use the language of our user communities.
So what do you reckon – I think we should start talking about educational resources don’t you?
Next challenge – what shall we call our repository?
Comments»
I agree with Angela fully. It’s very important to speak in a language that staff will relate to and understand. The Learning Repository provides opportunity to store an array of materials which may be but are not necessarily Learning Objects by stricter definitions. As we can see from user communities the strict definitions are not the important thing, the ability to find, use and re-use educational materials is. Once again, my kudos to the individuals in this project for looking at adoption and the cultural changes required as major components of the implementation.