In this self-directed journey I chose both the topic and the resources to use for my learning, eliminating a course instructor from the role of authority or facilitator. The learning objects I used were created outside the arena or oversight of the formal education system. Many of the resources I accessed were designed with instruction as their primary purpose, and by many characteristics they qualify as Learning Objects (as defined by Kay Chitwood and her team of collaborators in their chapter “Battle Stories from the Field: Wisconsin OnLine Resource Center Learning Objects Project”);

thinking that asks educators to focus on learning and the learner by creating self-contained, reusable, high-quality learning chunks that can be combined and recombined . . . and, learning objects that can fit with other learning objects across courses and learning objectives in an wide array of possibilities . . . the approach has been called “just in time/just for you” learning and can be facilitated by professional teachers or used by learners who are curious to know more about particulars of their field (2002, p. 204)

but their inception and creation were in response to needs assessment and gaps identified in the online consumer marketplace and were accomplished in concert with specific organizations’ need to sell and support product sales. Much like Home Depot sells by educating or training its customers, WordPress and affiliated theme designers, need to educate their customers in order to ensure satisfaction, competency, adaptation, longevity and sustainability – no altruism involved.

All of the resources I used were web based and as with any instructional materials and content, there are advantages and disadvantages. In the following table, I outline some of the pros and cons that I either experienced or considered possible.

Table 2

Pros & Cons of Web based Learning Tools and Objects sourced online

Self-Directed Learning ⇒