6024-Session5-Examples of Learing Objects-By Angie Fu

The learning object I chose is called “PH Scale”, from the web PhET. It is an interactive simulation, and belongs to simulation objects. As the definition of simulation object, “simulation objects represent some real system or process, and allow a learner to explore, usually by trial and error, operational aspects of a system, carry on a task that the system supports, and develop a mind model of that system’s functionalities”(Churchill, 2006). Besides, Churchill (2006) pointed that “a simulation might also involve dynamic processes”. From this case “PH Scale”, every user could choose different parameters (materials) to manage the different PH Scale.
Following is the detail explanation. At first, the interface is made up of three parts. On the left, the learners can choose different materials to measure its PH Scale, such as milk, coffee, beer, and so on. In the middle, it is a PH Scale related to the selected material. On the right, the learners could know the different quantity of molecular, which influenced the PH Scale of this material. In this interface, there is some different description to choose, like “Molecule count”, “ratio”, “Logarithmic scale”, “Linear scale”, “Concentration”, and “Number of moles”, which aim to better understand the meaning of PH Scale. Besides, the main goals of this simulation is to “determine concentration of hydroxide, hydronium and water at a given pH, relate liquid color to pH and predict (qualitatively and quantitatively) how dilution and volume will effect the pH and concentration of hydroxide, hydronium and water”(University of Colorado, 2011).
Overall, it is an interesting and vivid interactive simulation object. It contains many outstanding characteristics of a learning object. For details, it is a digital entity for technology-supported learning (IEEE, 2001), and used to support learning (Wiley, 2000). As a reusable digital resource, this example also can be built in a lesson (McGreal, 2004). Besides, it could be regarded as a small, stand-alone unit of instruction (E-learning Competency Center, 2003). Moreover, it is an interactive visual representation (Churchill, 2005). In a word, this simulation facilitates the complex concepts, and makes them more interesting. Through the visual interface and manipulation, the learners can understand its theory better.

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