4.2 Content
The content on OpenLearn comprises both the unit (structured self-study resources) as well as the individual assets which
make up a unit.
The assets of a unit are the materials such as text, images, animations, audio clips, etc., which are likely to be in different
digital formats. In some cases a unit will consist of just one asset, but most contain a variety.
As the amount of material in both the LearningSpace and the LabSpace grows, so does the variety of the units available. However,
the main types of unit that you will encounter are:
- Segments of current OU courses or support materials.
- These comprise an XML-based front page providing a short description of the unit, its learning outcomes, hyperlinks to the
sections of the unit and the unit's assets (text, MP3, images, etc.). In these units the majority of the original third-party
material has been cleared and retained.
- Teaching texts from a discontinued OU course.
- Such units contain an XML-based front page providing details of the original course and a hyperlinked list of PDF versions
of the majority of the texts. Third-party material has been removed.
- Audiovisual material from discontinued courses.
- These units comprise an XML-based front page providing both a description and hyperlinked list of the audio or video files.
- Specially written guides.
- These guides provide details on using the tools and technologies on OpenLearn.
- These link together various different resources in a visual structure.
- FlashMeetings created by fellow users of the site.
- Video blogs created by fellow users of the site.
In addition there are OERs that others have already created or changed, as well as collaborative units where groups of people
and organisations can develop aspects of their project which will result in new open educational resources.
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