This brief examines and explores the reuse of learning objects to enhance students' learning experiences. The author details the difficulties of reusing learning objects, or the Reusability Paradox, and how to create more flexible learning objects. The brief also proposes a methodology to minimize limitations and therefore maximize a learning object's utility across a number of fields.

Autorentext
Joseph J. Frantiska Jr. is a contributing faculty member at Walden University. He has undergraduate degrees in mathematics, business, software engineering and artificial intelligence along with graduate degrees in computer science and business administration. He possesses a doctorate in education from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Prior to entering the field of instructional technology, he spent over 25 years in industry as a systems and software engineer with experience in all aspects of the software and system development lifecycles generating more than 20 technical publications. He has taught at the college level for over twenty five years in both educational technology and computer science in both online and face-to-face environments. 

Inhalt
Background and significance.- The Reusability Paradox.- Learning Object Design Standards.- A Plethora of Definitions.- Types of Learning Objects.- Technical Standards and Specification.- Interchangability.- Evaluation and Selection.- The Gestation of Learning Objects.- A Structured Approach.- An Illustrative Example.- Summary/Conclusion.