Latest CeLLS News
25th September 2007: CeLLS wins third prize in the ALT-C 2007 Learning Object Competition
http://www.intrallect.com/index.php/intrallect/news_events/alt_lo_competition
The CeLLS team is delighted to win third prize in the ALT-C 2007 competition sponsored by repository specialists, Intallect Ltd (http://www.intrallect.com/). The two entries are taken from a pool of over 50 objects in cell and molecular biology that will be deposited in JORUM (http://www.jorum.ac.uk/) from December 2007.
The learning object design is highly flexible, facilitating implementation in the wide variety of institutions, pedagogies and technical environments.
The flexible learning objects produced by CeLLS are relatively non-prescriptive in terms of pedagogic approach and can be used in a variety of teaching contexts (e.g. lectures, tutorials, self-study to name but the few of the options). Each object is self contained covering a defined topic. This allows the lecturer to select the learning objects most suitable to their module and use these in combination with their own material. The individual assets covering smaller 'chunks' of content including Macromedia® Flash, illustrations, end of topic assessment, and HTML pages can all be reused separately, e.g. by editing and/or repackaging them using tools like RELOAD or VLE Learning Units.
The materials are distributed as SCORM v1.2 content packages, which have been tested in a wide variety of VLEs including Teknical Virtual Campus (v5.0), WebCT (Campus and Vista), Blackboard (v6,3) and Moodle. The revision self-assessment is delivered in both SCORM and QTI v1.x format. The content packages endeavour to conform to level Double-A of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 1.0. CeLLS learning materials are built using code compliant with W3C standards for xHTML and CSS. Adoption of these standards ensures that CeLLS web pages will display correctly in browsers used currently and in the future. MacromediaŽ Flash was used to produce interactives and the inline self assessment questions make use of JavaScript and marking is dependent on JavaScript being enabled in the user's browser.
In pilots across all partners, the learning objects have already been proven to engage students. Student engagement is achieved by providing them with frequent opportunities for self-assessment with feedback throughout the learning object, as well as visuals and interactivities. The flexibility of learning place and time provided by the materials was also popular with students.
Contact info@cellsproject.org for more information.