Review of the learning object - the Water Cycle

Thirstin’s Water Cycle, which is a colorful, kid friendly learning object, gives simple descriptions and animations of each step of the water cycle. This interactive tool is a visual and auditory introduction to the water cycle.

As an interactive learning object for novice students, it well explains basic concepts and caters for the learning interests of students via its interactive and vivid animations. It can be concluded that it is very useful for students. However, it's also a critical issue that only a part of teachers seems to introduce this kind of learning materials in the classrooms while few students have extensively used these materials out of classroom. More introductions and better integration of learning objects is needed to encourage students to use them more frequently as a normal part of study activities. The teaching with the help of learning objects is surely useful if it can be well organized and integrated into students' life and school syllabus.