DESIGN REUSABLE TOPICS

Just dumping content into templates does not make for effective learning. Just structuring topics as learning objects does not in itself make the content usable or reusable. To be useful and reusable, topics must be designed with reuse in mind. And reuse can only come if the topic is useful in the first place.

Craft recombinant building blocks

Reusable components are discrete chunks, not flowing passages. They are like building blocks that can be stacked to build a wall, a house, or a cathedral.

Design discrete chunks of reusable content

Effective topics are coherent, self-contained, complete, and consistent.

Reusable content is coherent. It aims to accomplish one purpose or answer one question. It confines itself to one subject and does not meander into non-essential material.