Abstract
Due to continuous technological advancements, the Web offers diverse applications for e-learning. However, in practice, many times technological development is considered synonymous with improved education. It is very important to take into account the appropriate use of Web development in order to promote knowledge acquisition with a proper selection, delivery and construction of information.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Metadata: Coded information about a learning object that aims to describe and manage them in the learning object repository.
E-Learning: The use of Internet technologies for learning activities to promote a wide display of solutions for improving knowledge and performance.
Learning Object: A unit with a learning objective, together with digital and independent capabilities, accessible through metadata to be reused in different contexts and platforms.
Learning Objects Repository (LOR): Collections of learning objects that are accessible via Internet. They function like portals with a Web-based user interface, a search service and a catalogue for the resources contained.
Reusability: A property of learning objects, which promotes the reuse of them for other educational situations and contexts. It depends on both metadata information and instructional design.
Level of Granularity: How much or how little information is included in a learning object. It is related with the LOs size.
Quality Learning Objects: A property or group of properties inherent in a learning objects, which aim to value them as equal, better or worse than other ones.
Instructional Design: Instructional design is the systematic development of instructional specifications using learning and instructional theory to ensure the quality of instruction. It is the entire process of analysis of learning needs and goals and the development of a delivery system to meet those needs. It includes development of instructional materials and activities, and tryout and evaluation of all instruction and learner activities (http://www.umich.edu).