[New Learning resource type] Physical objects

[philbarker]

What would you like added

Physical Learning Resource.

Physical objects (other than information resources like books) that are intentionally designed to help a person learn something.

Examples

Manipulables, e.g. Cuisinaire rods hardware such as speak-and-spell computers

Is this a type of learning resource

Is this type of resource specifically designed for teaching/learning? Yes

Does your suggestion describe one of the following: No

Relationship to other resource types

Is it possible to use one of the existing types as a broader classification for this type of resource? No

Would one of the existing types be a narrower classification for some resources of this type? No

Are there any related resource types in other schemes you use? don't know

Additional context Channeling Josh

[stuartasutton]

Sorry I missed the last monthly meetup and so may be behind the curve on discussion. Is there a danger here with "Physical Resource Type" of confusing an actual type with materials and tools a learning resource needs to be useful. For example, "hardware" does not seem to me like a Physical Resource Type (something designed to help a person learn something) any more than "pencils" and "colored paper".

[philbarker]

@stuartasutton I'm queueing stuff up for the next meeting (and testing a new issue template) -- so you're ahead in being here already.

There's a risk that any term could be misused, but some hardware is designed to help a person learn, and if we accept physical objects/products like speak and spell are learning resources, then we currently have no way to classify them.

[stuartasutton]

Then we need to try through a comment to drive home that the notion of "physical object designed to help a person learn something" does not include objects of otherwise general use or even those deemed necessary tools instruments and supplies for a learning activity such as paper, pencils, calculators etc.

[philbarker]

Need examples of what is included and what is not (as comment). Need to be clear that this does not include ancilliary materials. Need examples showing how to reference resources needed for lesson, e.g. knives.

[philbarker]

Proposal

physicalLearningResource a skos:Concept; label: physical learning resource definition: A physical object, hardware or device designed to help a learner achieve some learning objective. scope note: Examples include educational toys, programmable robots, manipulables used by learners. This does not include anciliary resources (e.g. pencil, paper, scissors, soldering iron) required for a learning activity.

skos:narrowMatch loc:gf2018026057 # manipulatives

[stuartasutton]

+1 Phil with the following notes: (1) "acheive" should be "achieve"; and (2) consider "achieve a" to "achieve some".

The scope note leads me to wonder whether there might be a reasonable need for an "ancilliaryResource" property to cover "Supplies necessary to the effective outcome of the learning objective such as pencil, paper, scissors, soldering iron, calculator." If so, the scope note second sentence for physicalLearningResource could point to "ancilliaryResource" property with something like the following text: "For ancillary resources such as pencil, paper, scissors, soldering iron, calculator necessary to the effective outcome of the learning objective, use the ancilliaryResource property.

[philbarker]

Thanks Stuart. I fixed the type and will raise an issue about ancilliaryResource so that comment doesn't get lost when we close this issue.

I wonder if ... achieve one or more learning objectives. would be best?

[philbarker]

Consensus on 2 Nov call to add this concept (pending editorialization)