A Platform for Authoring Interactive Web Audio Learning Objects

Technology has radically changed educational systems and teaching strategies over the last decades. The use of inter- active applications for training and exams has become in- creasingly common. Even audio and music production edu- cation benefits from Learning Management Systems (LMS), and teachers can utilize quizzes with listening tests to assess students’ progress. Several commercial applications support the learning process, often including testing features.

An area that has been less explored is educators’ need for custom, interactive content targeted at local curricula. A valid result typically requires audio programming skills and a considerable amount of time. Recent open-source tech- nologies, such as WebAudioXML (WAXML) and Web Audio Modules (WAM), aim to simplify the development of web- based audio applications, making them potential candidates for building Web Audio Learning Objects (WALO).

This study presents a design study in which a WALO is built with WAXML, WAM, and p5.js. Three sound and music technology experts evaluated it through a workshop and a semi-structured interview.

The results reveal several strengths of the technology, as well as limitations and challenges that need to be addressed in future iterations of the design process. The informants asked for a graphical tool for building a WALO and more detailed settings for the student challenges. They also em- phasize the great benefit of a tool such as this for a creative and explorative learning environment.