What is a Learning Object and the characteristics?

Define what is a learning object and what are the characteristics of a learning object?

A learning object is a type of knowledge object. Objects, by definition, are self-contained and reusable.
One of the characteristic is re-useable. To be re-usable, its content and presentation are separated. Learning objects are types of knowledge objects in the sense that their goal is to provide knowledge in support of an associated learning objective.
Commonly, learning objects’ presentations include a variety of media, that is, they are multimedia
in format, but this is not a requirement. Likewise, commonly their content is organized
around standards such as Sharable Content Object Reference Model (SCORM -http://www.adlnet.org) or IEEE Learning Object Metadata (IEEE LOM - http://ltsc.ieee.org) to create metadata about the contents of the learning object resource. SCORM and IEEE LOM are standards that aid reusability, interoperability, and accessibility of learning objects.
Learning objects are not necessarily strange, novel, and futuristic entities. In the minimum, learning objects can be created by capturing (to video) and indexing individual lectures with associated presentation materials. This collection, storage and reuse enable the lecturer to turn the event of giving a lecture into more than a single performance to a single set of students.

Reference:
http://www.google.com.sg/search?hl=en&q=what+are+learning+objects+in+e+learning&meta=&aq=f&oq=

Learning Object Characteristics

There are many characteristics of learning objects, the common ones are: accessibility, interoperability, adaptability, reusability, durability, and granularity.

Examples of Learning Objects:

Depending on the learning object definition you prefer, there are many formats that a learning object might take. Some of the more common examples include a Web page or Web site, a digital movie or audio track, an animation, a java applet, a lesson, a module, a course, an assessment, an activity, and an image.

http://careo.prn.bc.ca/losc/mod2t1.html

Accessibility of a learning object is an important characteristic because the instructional components are often accessed from one remote location and delivered to many other locations (Content Management Systems - CMS) in the distributed learning environment.

Interoperability use instructional components developed in one location, with one set of tools or platform, in another location, with a different set of tools or platform. While transferring the learning objects from one CMS to another, the integrity of the object must be well preserved. Therefore, using an interoperable model while constructing a learning object is an important factor to consider. Metadata and learning object standards enhance the interoperability of learning objects.

Adaptability ensures the learning object is tailored perfectly for the individual and situational needs.

Reusability is obviously the most important characteristic. A well designed learning object should allow users to incorporate it into multiple applications without much additional effort. Storing, searching, and retrieving learning resources have always been a challenge in the traditional teaching and learning media. Learning object repositories provide solutions to the problems in distributing and reuse the knowledge sources. Learning objectdesigners should only make reusable instructional components which can be distributed in to the learning object repositories in order to share and reuse the object in the future.

Durability operate instructional components when base technology changes, without redesign or re-coding. Both educators and learners are well aware of the acceleration of technology changes and create a learning object that allow easy updates and re-publication would make extend the durability of the learning object.

Granularity refers to how rigorously we choose to break down and store our learning objects. The unit of a learning object can be a program, a course a module, a lesson, a segment, or a raw object. Generally a finer level of granularity will promote reusability, by allowing for use in multiple contexts. Of course, a greater number of smaller objects requires more cataloguing and therefore increases.

Reference: http://www.loaz.com/learning-objects/learning-object-characteristics.html