Getting Ahead at University: Using Reusable Learning Objects to Enhance Study Skills

Abstract

This paper presents a case study of the design and evaluation of high quality, interactive, multimedia reusable learning objects (RLOs) for learning study skills. The development team are based at the London Metropolitan University 'branch' of the UK's national Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning in Reusable Learning Objects (http://www.rlo-cetl.ac.uk/); London Metropolitan University is the lead site, in partnership with the Universities of Cambridge and Nottingham. Our design approach, called Team Enhanced Creativity (TEC) is heavily influenced by approaches to user-centred and participative design. The TEC approach enables teaching staff, multimedia developers and students to become involved in an iterative and highly creative process of reusable learning object design, implementation and evaluation. In this paper we will, (i) outline the background problem related to developing study skills RLOs, (ii) describe examples of the RLOs that were developed, (iii) present evaluation data, and (iii) conclude by looking at challenges for the future.