From clicks to bricks: the delivery of learning objects to users

Many Universities provide a wide range of online support materials and services aimed at supporting a diverse range of students via centrally provided web sites. Recent projects, such as the JISC funded Kent Personal Learning Portal Project (PLPP), have focussed on supporting non-traditional students with those graduate skills the students tell us they find challenging. At the FE – HE interface students reported that they found the opportunity to engage with HE level skills development, prior to arrival at university, eased transition and raised their confidence levels.

The large number and wide variety of resources available has led to a perception that not all information found was authoritative or relevant to the student’s own course of study. Based on student feedback, the University has investigated the delivery of learning objects embedded into the student’s learning experience via a VLE.

The use of databanks of objects, such as JORUM, has raised issues of search and retrieval, as has an evaluation of the way in which students access support for themselves over the web. This case study describes a project which delivers learning objects for both staff and students via W2 search techniques. The resource is capable of dynamic change based on input from users and should serve the needs of the digitally literate student as well as those who are not natives of the digital world.