Designing and Implementing a Resource-Based Learning Environment

Resource based learning involves the use or reuse of multiple resources to support learning. Unfortunately when the idea was proposed in the 1970s, we did not have ready access to digital resources nor did we have the ability to reuse these resources easily. Many factors now make the creation of resource-based learning environments (RBLEs) feasible and desirable, yet they still have not fulfilled their promise for learning. With the continued growth and increasing reliance on the Web, organizations have sought ways to increase access to information. One way in which some organizations have attempted to reach out to employees to give access to multiple resources is through the creation of a knowledge management system (KMS). The promise of KMSs have been widely lauded, yet, despite these promises, KMSs, like RBLEs, have faced challenges in implementation and sustainability. Indeed, many of the visions related to the promise of what could be for RBLEs and KMSs remain unfulfilled to date. The purpose of this paper is to provide a framework for thinking about the design and development of a KMS based on the principles of an RBLE.