CALICO 2007 Presentation

SCORM Creation and Integration

SCORM Panel Discussion
Bob Godwin-Jones | rgjones@vcu.edu
http://www.has.vcu.edu/for/gj.html

Presentation Outline Show all / Hide all

What does it do? The "sharable content object"

Purpose...
- Provides a standard for creating and sharing Web content
- Designed for self-paced instruction - for DL, other tools needed
Concept of SCO is the centerpiece of SCORM
- SCO's designed to be smallest chunk of learning material
- SCO's are supposed to be context-free
How SCO's are deployed
- Created outside of an LMS, then imported in
- Currently supported in many LMS, usually in a Java environment

How does it work? Scripting and Packaging

Content created in any format viewable in a Web browser, such as...
- HTML, optionally enhanced with Javascript & multimedia
- Plug-ins: Java applets or Flash movies
- Browser requirement: LiveConnect
- Single page or multiple pages, often in a frames environment
Javascript code needed to connect with LMS
Must contain a manifest file (based on IMS) => provides structure
Meta-data includes typical elements, but also educational, rights, annotation categories
All content for a SCO (or multiple SCO's) zipped into an archive file

Language Learning
- Most appropriate for well-organized & tightly controlled learning materials
- Useful as part of an integrated on-line language learning environment
- Alternative between stateless Web sites and highly structured CBT/ITS
- Content not trapped in a proprietary system -> portable & shareable
Some language resources with SCORM compatibility
- GLOSS lessons from the Defense Language Institute
- Digital Media Archive from LARC at San Diego State University
- Merlot learning objects - analysis grid for reusability of resources
- Upcoming version of Hot Potatoes
Sample SCORM lessons, need to be viewed within an LMS
- Single SCO: Story presentation - Das Kartenspiel
- Multiple SCO's: Grammar lesson - Verb-Preposition Combinations

SCORM Editors: Free and $

Free
- Xerte Flash based, Windows, free not open source
- eXe Mac, Win & Linux; open source
- RELOAD [Reusable eLearning Object Authoring & Delivery] - supports sequencing
Commercial
- Lectora high-end, Windows. multiple export
- ReadyGo many diff LMS's supported, Windows, server option
- Course Genie from Wimba, works in Word
- SoftChalk LessonBuilder Mac and Windows, activities, styles
- Why consider commercial tools?

LMS Integration: Blackboard, WebCT, Moodle as examples

SCORM Home Page From ADL (Advanced Distributed Learning)
SCORM Newsgroups Sponsored by ADL
SCORM demos From the Academic ADL Co-Lab
SCORM "cliff notes" version From rha associates
Two-Minute SCORM Overview for Developers From Rustici Software (PDF)
SCORM: Clarity or Calamity? From Online Learning Magazine
Efficient Development through SCORM Standards Presentation by Paul F. Merrill, Michael D. Bush, and Thor Anderson (Powerpoint)
Experts question SCORM's pedagogic value From cetis
Supporting Collaborative Learning Activities with SCORM By Albert Ip & Ric Canale

dokeos Open source learning management system
SCORM import module For use in dokeos
Simple Content API Free converter of documents to SCORM (from Rustici Software)
CybEO Learning Management System supporting SCORM (in French)
Angel SCORM-compliant LMS from CyberLearninglabs
LRN Microsoft's elearning toolkit (supports SCORM)
WebMentor SCORM-compliant LMS from Avilar
RELOAD A free player and mini-LMS for SCORM content (editor also available), one of few for Mac & Linux
RELOAD editor adds Content Packaging and SCORM authoring From cetis
SCORM Runtime Wrapper For use in Dreamweaver (from Macromedia)
Question Tools SCORM-compliant Quiz creator
SoftChalk LessonBuilder SCORM-compliant Web lesson creator