Perspectives for information retrieval
Learners need information from a variety of perspectives. For example, a learner may need a course
or lesson in order to extend his knowledge into new areas, or maintain a qualified status. But on
the job, he will invariably benefit from having at his fingertips accurate, current information
about a product or piece of equipment he is about to service. Or, if he wishes to acquire new
skills to fill an important “niche” and hence become more valuable to the organization, he will want
to find the learning objects associated with the niche, get a custom “pre-test” to see what he
already knows, and then assimilate just the content necessary to fill the gap.
Accommodating perspectives like these depends on tracing the connections in the schemas. It is more
reliable to use a performance-based framework than key-word search to find objects that someone
might need to safely and effectively do their work.
Outcomes for learning
Once a set of learning objects is compiled, it must be transformed into an outcome that the
individual can learn from. At this point the properties of the learning objects are applied or
filtered to create an instrument of learning in a particular form.
A compiled set of independently stored learning objects might be used and re-used in a variety of
settings, to include: on-line (web-based), computer-based, print-based, instructor classroom-based
materials, student materials for self-paced or classroom use, and exams or quizzes.
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