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Mar
12
(2005)
On Reusability (in learning objects)
Filed under: Uncategorized. Tags: learningobjects.
The XPlanaZine article by Susan Smith Nash appears to have kindled some thoughtful commentary on the blogosphere (on a Saturday, no less). I agree completely with her reservations (as well as those of Darren Cannell). Reusability is pretty much a fallacy, especially when attempted with highly complex “learning objects” like websites, powerpoints, etc…
Real reusability becomes more difficult (and less useful) as a resource becomes tailored for any specific context (by adding complexity via structure and content). This is David Wiley’s “reusability paradox“, and there’s no easy way to get around it.
Real reusability is only effectively possible when dealing with smaller resources. Images. Video clips. Audio clips. These smaller bits can then be more readily recombined with additional contextual information (structure, content) to provide another use of the assets.
Once a complex resource becomes meaningful enough to be use used in any particular context, it’s usefulness in other contexts is reduced or eliminated. But, if you can go back to the source, to the image/video/audio assets that make up the complex resource, then you can build a new “learning object” that is tailored to your particular needs. Which will almost automatically be unusable in any other context. But that’s OK, if other people can go back to your source assets and create their own complex resources…
That’s pretty much the idea behind Pachyderm, and it’s why I’m so excited by what the software can do. Reusability does not live in the final output product - the interactive, highly contextualized resource. It lives in the raw assets that were used to create that resource. By using the Rip, Mix, Burn philosophy, you can recombine assets as needed to fit your own particular needs, at a particular time, for a particular audience.
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7 Responses to “On Reusability (in learning objects)”
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D’Arcy - what platform does Pachyderm run on?
It’s a web application, so anyone with a browser can use it with no installation. If you want to run your own Pachyderm server (the source code will be available this summer), it’s a WebObjects application, so you’ll need a box that can run WebObjects (MacOSX, Windows 2000 Server, Solaris, Linux)
Excellent! I have access to any or all of the above - looking forward to the public release!
Outstanding post. I really agree with your insights and the points you raise. I’m not familiar with Pachyderm and was really intrigued and would like to read your descriptions of the capabilities. Do you have a post or an article that describes Pachyderm and its possibilities?
Susan, there is some info available about Pachyderm at:
http://nmc.typepad.com/pachyblog
http://www.nmc.org/projects/pachyderm
and my blog posts on Pachyderm are at
http://www.darcynorman.net/category/pachyderm
Thanks for the information on Pachyderm — what a wonderful initiative! I had a chance to see the Modigliani exhibit at the Phillips Collection in DC last week & I found myself going to the web after viewing & listening so I could have a reinforcing activity & relax with bio info, etc. — I thought it was interesting to have that impulse & when I read about Pachyderm, it seemed just totally on-target for the needs of learners, esp w/ respect to access, etc. I’m definitely going to read more. Thanks for the links!
Tried a trackback to this but it did not seem to work. (is trackback turned off)?
I added a post with a bit of a counter argument at:
http://www.situativity.org/archives/000160.html
Rovy