Merlot
From Bazaar Wiki
Type of application / System Requirements
Merlot is a large scale web based directory of learning materials and resources.
Purpose
MERLOT is a leading edge, user-centered, searchable collection of peer reviewed and selected higher education, online learning materials, catalogued by registered members and a set of faculty development support services. MERLOT's vision is to be a premiere online community where faculty, staff, and students from around the world share their learning materials and pedagogy.
MERLOT's strategic goal is to improve the effectiveness of teaching and learning by increasing the quantity and quality of peer reviewed online learning materials that can be easily incorporated into faculty designed courses.
What it does
Merlot is a large scale directory of Open Educational Resources. The materials in MERLOT are categorized as follows:
- Simulation: Approximates a real or imaginary experience where users' actions affect their outcomes. Users determine and input initial conditions that generate output that is different from and changed by the initial conditions.
- Animation: Allows users to view the dynamic and visual representation of concepts, models, processes, and/or phenomena in space or time. Users can control their pace and movement through the material, but they cannot determine and/or influence the initial conditions or their outcomes/results.
- Tutorial: Users navigate through electronic workbooks designed to meet stated learning objectives, structured to impart specific concepts or skills, and organized sequentially to integrate conceptual presentation, demonstration, practice, and testing.
- Drill and Practice: Requires users to respond repeatedly to questions or stimuli presented in a variety of sequences. Users practice on their own, at their own pace, to develop their ability to reliably perform and demonstrate the target knowledge and skills.
- Quiz/Test: Any assessment device intended to serve as a test or quiz.
- Lecture/Presentation: Any material intended for use in support of in-class lectures/presentations. Lecture notes, audio visual materials, and presentation graphics such as PowerPoint slide shows that do not stand alone are examples.
- Case Study: Illustrates a concept or problem by using an example that can be explored in depth.
- Collection: Any collection of learning materials such as web sites or subject specific applets.
- Reference Material: Material with no specific instructional objectives and similar to that found in the reference area of a library. Subject specific directories to other sites, texts, or general information are examples.
- Learning Object Repository: A searchable database of at least 100 online resources that is available on the Internet and whose search result displays an ordered hit list of items with a minimum of title metadata. What is not a LOR: a webpage with a list of links.
- Online Course: A material that is designed to be used in an online course.
- Workshop and Training Material: Materials best used in a workshop or tutorial for the purpose of teaching others about learning and teaching online.
How can it be used for creation of OERs
Merlot is not a portal or tool for the creation of Open Educational Resources as such, but rather a directory of dispersed resources.
How can it be used for consumption of OERs
There are large numbers of resources available through Merlot and a number of different ways of searching and accessing such resources. The Merlot directory can be searched by subject. There are also a number of communities in different subject areas and resources can be accessed though the communities. However, Merlot is not primarily a resource for consuming resources in the form of self organised learning but more a resource for educators seeking OERs for their programmes.
How can it be used for reuse of OERs
Ability for reuse depends on the license of the materials.
License support
Merlot neither stipulates license conditions, neither does it specify file formats.
Standards / Compatibility
Although Merlot does not specify standards, many of the resources contain rich multi media.
HOW TO USE IT
There are four different activities you can undertake using the Merlot site:
- Learning Materials
Browse peer reviewed online learning materials in your discipline.
- Colleagues
Find expert colleagues in your discipline.
- Personal Collections
View personal collections from people in your discipline.
- Assignments
Get assignments you can use with your students.
- Guest Experts
Find guest experts in the Virtual Speakers Bureau.
Links / examples / Who is using it
Merlot has developed an institutional partnership working alonside a series of 14 institutional initiatives. These are five of these initiatives:
- Course Redesign/Academic Transformation– Institutions need to redesign lower division, high enrollment courses to improve student learning with the support of technology.
- Accelerated Development of Quality Online and/or Hybrid Courses– Institutions need to support faculty, librarians, and academic technology staff in the finding, using, and designing of quality teaching and learning experiences within your academic programs.
- Effective Use of Learning Management Systems - Institutions need to support effective and efficient use of their significant investments in their learning management system by faculty, students, librarians, and staff. Integrating academic content into sound pedagogical courses is a prime concern.
- Faculty Development Success – Institutions need to support faculty developing their talents and skills in using technology to improve student learning reliably and efficiently. The faculty development strategies need to be scaleable and sustainable.
- Enabling Success of Adjunct Faculty - Institutions need to develop strategies to support adjunct faculty in the delivery of consistent quality teaching and curriculum.
Sandbox
Simply go to the Merlot site. If you wish to contribute materials to the site or to use the personal collections tools you will need to set up an account.
Comments / Discussion
Merlot is essentially an open directory of learning materials. Anyone can contribute. Such openness has resulted in a very substantial directory. However it has some problems in terms of quality assurance. Merlot has a peer review system for resources. But with so many new resources being posted on the site, not all resources have been reviewed.Communities offer another form of quality assurance and the opportunity to meet virtually with others interested in the same area. Merlot is one of the earliest initiatives for content sharing and as such is an important contribution to the community.
