This section of the NMC web site, composed of more than 50 pages of information and over a hundred links to external sites, is devoted to detailing the landscape of the world of Learning Objects. Here you will find links to a variety of resources related to theories, standards, and projects. You can find your way about using the special navigation area to the left. To access this information as a printable Adobe Acrobat document, see the Traveler's Guide to the Learning Object Landscape.

Introduction

When we began our journey into the world of learning objects, we had no idea that the landscape would prove to be so rich and detailed. Hundreds of articles on the subject have been written in just the past few years, and virtually every developed country has a list of organizations either engaged in learning object development or in the distribution of objects or information about objects. The list of important projects expands daily.

Given the complexity of the learning object landscape, the metaphor behind the title of this report is apt. Try as we may, given the numbers of people and organizations working in the areas of elearning and learning objects and the hundreds of articles, chapters, and other documents written on the topic, a report such as this can provide only a glimpse into that landscape.

We took the approach of trying to assemble not a definitive report, but rather a handy guide that could serve as an introduction to policy makers and others interested in learning objects. In the same way that you might choose a guide to help you plan a trip or to make your way around a foreign country, we hope this guide will provide you enough information to gain a sense of the landscape and culture of the learning object world. And just as a real traveler's guide does not attempt to list every restaurant, destination, or monument, we have chosen only a selection of key articles, organizations, and projects to describe here. The summaries are brief by design, and the articles and organizations carefully chosen knowing that each one included meant others would have to be left out.

Major Sections

• Introduction to Learning Objects
• Guide to Selected Organizations
• Major LO Initiatives and Projects
• Selected Papers on LO Topics and Issues
• Standards
• Pedagodgy
• Effectiveness
• Digital Rights
• Learning Technologies and Tools
• Selected LO Funding and Development links

If you see a need for a correction, or if you know of important projects or articles you'd like to see included here, please don't hesitate to let us know. You can reach us at learning-objects@nmc.org.