These pages serve as a companion to the monograph Guidelines for Authors of Learning Objects. The following resources are organized according to the sections in the monograph.

Adding Resources: If you are aware of a resource that should be added to this list, please contact us (info@nmc.org).

Placing Learning Objects in Context

Defining Learning Objects

• NLII Learning Objects Ontology
• NLII Glossary
• Eduworks: All About Learning Objects
• Learning Objects Portal (tutorial about LOs)

Copyright and Intellectual Property Issues

• Fair Use and Copyright, Stanford University
• Creative Commons
• Crash Course in Copyright (University of Texas)
• Sample Letter Requesting Permission (University of Texas)
• Sample License Agreement (University of Texas)

Creating Learning Objects: Some Practical Advice

Designing to Enable Learning

• Worksheets: Planning Your Learning Object (8 pages; 133 k)
• Worksheets: Planning Your Learning Object (8 pages; 126 k)
• IDEA: Instructional Design for Education & Its Assessment

Designing the Learner’s Experience: Graphic Design

• Web Page Design for Designers
• Web Design Features (Robin Williams, not the actor)

Designing the Learner’s Experience: Usability

• Information & Design
• Methods of Usability Testing (think-alouds, walkthroughs, etc.)
• Usability.gov
• Research-Based Web Design & Usability Guidelines
• IDEA Online (heuristic evaluation service)

Designing for Accessibility

• webAIM
• Usability.gov
• Dive into Accessibility

Designing for Reusability

• Eduworks Reusable Learning
• Reusable Design Guidelines

Designing for Interoperability: Adding Metadata

• Advanced Distributed Learning
• CanCore
• Learnativity.com: Learning Objects & Learning Standards
• SCORM Overview

Requirements Gathering

• Writing a Requirements Document: Workshop Materials

Marketing Learning Objects

• Find Learning Objects (UBC)
• NMC Directory of Learning Object Repositories