Learning Object Repository vs. Learning Object Repository Platform

As more and more K-12 schools turn to online education for at least a portion of their courses, teachers are increasingly turning to learning object repositories for content. There are many learning object repositories (LOR) on the internet, ranging from university sites to a popular online music vendor. Before spending a lot of time searching through the content available on these sites, however, teachers should consider what steps are necessary to transfer the content from the site into their virtual classroom. This is often a cumbersome, frustrating process. School districts that sign up to use a learning object repository platform like Reactor by IQity, are able to use standards-aligned content within the same platform they use to manage their classroom.

An Integrated Platform is Easier to Use

Reactor is a not a stand-alone learning object repository. Rather, it is one component of IQity's comprehensive Learning Management Suite. Reactor comes bundled with all the tools teachers need to offer online classes. The classroom management tools allow them to communicate with students, monitor how much time each student spends on class assignments, give and grade assessments, and even speak directly to the class using the real-time webcasting tool.

All the content in Reactor has been reviewed by a panel of educational experts to be certain it is aligned with state standards. That saves busy teachers time because they don't need to do that evaluation themselves. It also offers assurance that the content they find in Reactor will help their students succeed on state achievement tests.

Finding content in Reactor is easy, very similar to using a search engine to conduct an internet search. Teachers can search by subject, grade level, state standard, or keyword. And since Reactor contains many types of learning objects, they can also search by format: video, mp3 file, assessment, exercise, lab, graph, map, web page and so on.

The real benefit of using a learning object repository platform comes once the teacher has chosen content she wants to use in her class. Because Reactor is part of the complete IQity platform, transferring content to the classroom is as easy as "drag and drop." The teacher does not need to have multiple web pages open at once. In fact, she never needs to leave her IQity online school environment.

Tailoring Lessons to the Student

Because it's so easy to find and use content from Reactor, teachers are able to customize lessons for students with particular needs. A student who is having trouble grasping a concept may need content more suitable for his learning style. A gifted child may need more challenging material. Teachers can easily meet these needs using IQity's learning object repository platform. Reactor makes is easy to find content to meet each student's needs. And IQity's classroom management tools make it simple to assign a lesson to just one student, or to individualize an assessment.

Another choice made possible with the use of a learning object repository platform is to assign group projects. As first glance, it may seem out of the question to assign collaborative work to a group of students who are not attending the same bricks-and-mortar school. But Iqity's LiveBoard, part of the comprehensive platform, allows students to work together, sharing content from Reactor and interacting is a secure online environment that is not accessible to anyone who is not enrolled in the class.

Is an LOR Platform Expensive?

Schools will be pleasantly surprised to find that IQity's Learning Management Suite is free to schools and school districts. So there is no added cost to use a complete learning object repository platform as compared to choosing content from a stand-alone LOR. To see how IQity can provide award-winning content to your school along with a complete platform of learning management tools, ask for an online demonstration today.