Wish List - Wish List: Wish #67

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Michael McLennan

Obliterate learning modules from nanoHUB.org

We should remove all mention of learning modules on the upload side, and de-emphasize learning modules on the front page and other menus. Some day, we should convert all existing learning modules to a “series” of lectures. Some learning modules include a quiz, so we might have to drop that part and make other adjustments during the conversion.

Comments (5)

  1. Joseph M. Cychosz

    I think the fundamental idea is that the general contributor isn’t contributing learning modules. They are complex and require a detailed understanding of the deliverables before embarking on that journey.

    I wouldn’t convert to a series, but rather a “course” where the there are exercises, etc. A series is not necessarily a learning experience. A well done course is. The NCN Summer School stuff for 2009 will be a good model for what this should look like.

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  2. Gerhard Klimeck

    we should think about the consequences on the SCORM (sp?) compliance…. is this relevant. Should discuss with Krishna

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  3. Krishna Madhavan

    Actually – I think – you can call it whatever – but, there are some real problems that learning modules solve. For example, we are working with Dragica on her PNDiode module – but, because it is not designed as a learning module – navigation is really hard. I don’t think a series makes sense when you are trying to sequence this when there are exercises etc. built into the “series”. I don’t think it is pedagogically a good idea to lose the context that is provided by a learning module. If this is purely political – then it is a different issue. Look at Dragica’s PNDiode piece and you will see how not having a coherent flow for things can be a real problem. Also, if someone uploads a series of lectures increasing and building on knowledge continuously then learning modules are the way to go.

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    1. Krishna Madhavan

      BTW, if there is some other easier mechanism that allows us to not lose the context – of navigating through a number of sequential/incremental content+homeworks+simulations+solved problems+exercises – then, it would be worth exploring that option. I am not sure “courses” do this.

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    2. Joseph M. Cychosz

      What about deploy as a topics page with the components as a resource.

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    3. Joseph M. Cychosz

      Here’s the MD learning module deployed as a topic page

      https://nanohub.org/topics/LearningModulePlasticityMD

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  4. Joseph M. Cychosz

    Mike’s wording is a little more harsh than what I suggested. My suggestion is to not remove learning modules from nanoHUB but rather remove it from the advertised contribute process. People deploying a learning module need to work with us to successfully deploy. The LM’s that I have deployed have been deployed as individual components using the backend.

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    1. Krishna Madhavan

      i think – the wording is not a problem…I am just wondering what mechanisms exist to sequence content without losing context. If there is something we should explore and drop LMs. I am not wedded to this – but, we just need to think through what better mechanisms exist. I think – the tool powered curricula themselves have this problem of students losing context…..something to discuss about.

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  5. George B. Adams III

    This wish is part of the larger issue that we have 11 named types of resources, including the catch-all “Publications”, and even we don’t know what they are.

    We need to re-think the typing of resources and rename them so that the general population has a better understanding of what they are. For example, among current resource type names: tool — insider slang; an opaque or misleading term to most people (noted by Prof. Mihaela Vorvoreanu) online presentations — courses, series, and workshops often are comprised of online presentations notes — vague

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    1. Joseph M. Cychosz

      Discussion for resource naming moved to its own wish:

      http://nanohub.org/wishlist/general/1/wish/247

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