Adaptive Settings can allow for adaptive learning. Since test questions are tied to specific Learning Objects, the presentation of the knowledge material can be adapted towards the learner’s specific needs based on pre-test scores. If a learner scores high marks in one area and low marks in another, the administrator can set up the course to show only the knowledge material needed to address a learner’s areas of weakness. This can save time otherwise wasted on learning previously acquired knowledge.
An assessment has no knowledge material, just questions. An assessment is useful for skills mapping purposes or validating that knowledge presented during a learning session presented in another media (such as face-to-face, video- or paper-based training) has been successfully transferred.
In order to add and delete content, upload assets, and add test and review questions, Learning Objects must be checked out. When a Learning Object is checked out, an icon resembling a red check mark appears next to the description of the Learning Object and other content administrators cannot edit it. All Learning Objects and Course Objects should be checked in when editing is complete. (An orange or blue “L” icon next to a Learning Object means the Learning Object is checked in. Orange identifies Learning Objects that are un-published and blue identifies Learning Objects that are published.)
see Checking In/Checking Out
Change to an on-screen element triggered by clicking the left mouse button while the mouse cursor hovers over the element.
A course is a complete set of lessons (comprised of Modules and Learning Objects) about a topic or related topics, and is identified by a course title, properties and ID number. Courses are often part of a larger curriculum, which is a series of courses geared towards a specific application, job, or training group.
Course objects such as Introductions, Segues or Conclusions are used to provide smooth transitions and continuity between Learning Objects. They also form integral components of the overall construct of a course.
A course contains knowledge material, sometimes multiple reviews and often, an associated test. A course is comprised of a Module or Modules, typically containing Course Objects as well as Learning Objects.
If enabled, all instances of the Learning Object will inherit any changes made to it. Disabling inheritance will create an independent copy of the Learning Object disconnecting it from inheriting changes to the original Learning Object. Inheritance cannot be re-enabled once it has been disabled.
A keyword(s) is applied to a Learning Object and allows a developer or a learner to search the Learning Objects by keyword for quick reference.
Learner centric means a focus on the needs of the individual learner. A learner-centric approach is tailored towards the individual and is geared towards their specific needs.
A Learning Event is the appearance of a Learning Object (LO) in a course. The LE is a “reflection of” or “pointer to” the LO which resides in the Repository. The LE properties are the one aspect of a LO a user can adjust within a course that will not necessarily effect other courses which reuse (are linked) to that Learning Object.
Learning Objects are self-standing, reusable objects, created to address a specific instructional objective. An LO is stored in the LO Repository of the LCMS.
A stated instructional objective is the basis of a Learning Object, as well as one or more knowledge files. A Learning Object can be reinforced by a review and tested with test questions. The construct of a Learning Object comprises several components, namely:
- A stated objective referred to as a Description
- Keywords, terms and/or Phrases
- Knowledge
- Review
- Assessment/Testing
- Assets (supporting files for knowledge, test or review content, which may include text, graphics, audio, video, etc.)
A module groups Learning Objects together in a course structure. A course may contain only one module, in which all the Learning Objects are located, or it may contain a number of different modules containing Learning Objects. Modules have titles which can help the learner identify and sort the learning material.
An objective defines in specific terms what a learner must do oraccomplish as a result of learning. It will typically describe the conditions, the behavior and the standard for successful completion. A learning objective (or performance, instructional, behavioral objective) describes what learners will be able to do when they complete a learning activity (a course or part of a course). An enabling objectivedescribes something learners must do to show accomplishment towards the course or terminal objective. A terminal objective (or course objective) describes what the learner will be able to do at the end of the training course.
An objective test is one that focuses on core learning objectives within the course content and provides an equal weighting for each of these objectives. The LCMS provides this functionality by tying each test question or pool of questions to specific learning objectives. The test is then automatically created based upon all of the learning objectives within the course module. Each Learning Object with a test item or items will be assessed using a random or set mode, as defined by the course author.
A pop-up is a small window or box that appears on the screen and provides extra information, typically after an action such as a Click or Roll-over.
The Production Server is the same server the students will be using when they access the course. The Staging Server is typically used by administrators and content developers to test a course or for training purposes.
When a Learning Object (LO) is initially created, it is unpublished, and therefore not available to be seen or used by any other content author (except department heads and administrators or those assigned editing rights). Once an LO is Published, it is available to other content authors to see and use in their own courses. Publishing does not give other content authors editing rights to the original LO, although they can edit the copy of the LO. (Published LOs are signified by a blue icon, unpublished LOs by an orange icon).
Reusable Learning Object which is stored in the LO Repository of the LCMS, and can be used in multiple courses.
Reviews are in-course diagnostic assessments embedded into a course hierarchy. Essentially, Reviews are challenges (similar to test questions) presented to the learner. The Reviews are strategically positioned within a course hierarchy to assess a learner’s comprehension of knowledge previously presented to them. Reviews are not scored.
Each review created is an integral component of a specific Learning Object. The intent is to provide a challenge to learners to validate successful transference of knowledge or identify an area of weakness that requires remediation. Remediation can be as simple as recommending the learner review the corresponding knowledge component of the Learning Object, or as complex as presenting the knowledge in an alternative manner, perhaps with more detail. Reviews are a Learning mode activity only.
Change to an on-screen element triggered by hovering the mouse cursor over the element. Roll-overs can be complete actions on their own, such as showing a pop-up box with a definition when a word is rolled over. Roll-overs can also be a change in state for a button to indicate that an item is clickable for further action.
A Learning Object (LO) can be comprised of one or more files, pages and/or screens.
A screen refers to what is seen within a course window at any given time. A screen can have pop-ups, click-ons, roll-overs and other interactions that bring up a smaller window/box on top, but once the background is entirely new, it is considered a new screen.
A page refers to what is seen in an LO in the LCMS. When a learner clicks the Next or Forward button, they are moving to a new page. A page in the LCMS actually corresponds to a file, so moving forward or back calls a new file to be displayed.
A file is a collection of data stored as a unit with a single name. For example, a file can be an HTML or Flash page, or a discrete audio or video segment in the LCMS.
see Production Server/Staging Server