Instructional technology : who puts the 'learning' into digital learning objects?

Digital learning objects are an exciting and innovative instructional technology tool gaining prominence in educational settings. They are digitally created and stored devices that extend the walls of the classroom to enhance and broaden the learning opportunities that instructional designers provide. Learning objects provide opportunities for teaching and learning that were previously not possible. With a learning object you could find that you are: discovering about ocean currents and the effects of wind as you sail a maxi yacht in the Great Volvo Ocean Race, or you could be investigating muscle tissue and internal organs by dissecting a virtual frog. Whatever it may be, most of these opportunities have not been previously available to instructional designers and or general classroom teachers, except in a state of total imagination. Learning objects bring imagination into a virtual reality. For learning objects to establish an important role in teaching and learning it is necessary for teachers to redesign the way they structure and deliver learning experiences that are based around these innovative components (Hargreaves, 2004).