Creating Sharable, Portable, and Reusable Learning Content for Distributed Language Instruction

• Introduction: Options for creating Web-based instructional materials

  Assumptions... Delivery will be through the Web, maybe with some CD/DVD Content usable by other instructors & in other environments Authoring/distribution options for Web delivery Stand-alone tools such as Dreamweaver Plus: Flexibility and openness; wide compatibility Minus: Steep learning curve, complexity Learning Management Systems [LMS] such as Blackboard Plus: Extensive features for management & communication Minus: Fixed functionality; limited extendibility Third Way: Off-line content authoring with LMS integration Content not locked in a proprietary system More options in terms of content organization and functionality

• Preliminary Discussion: Sharing for users of a LMS

  For most instructors, using an LMS is the only option available to them Often content authored in the LMS is trapped in the LMS Example of Blackboard's "learning units" Course-based data organization not efficient means to present or share content Need for a solution to wasteful duplication of effort on individual and profession-wide basis Wouldn't it be great to have repositories of lessons importable into different LMS?

• Internet Standards: Do they matter?

  Important if choice and wide compatibility matter The power of open source - forcing companies to consider standards implementation Content more likely to be portable and sharable if not created in closed, proprietary system

• SCORM: What it is and where it comes from

  What is it? "Sharable content object reference model", of course Your US government taxes at work - developed through the Department of Defense (ADL) Some implications of its funding source - need for reliability, interoperability, on-line training Current fully developed version: 1.2. On the horizon: SCORM 2004

• 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 - uses navigation of LMS Currently supported in many LMS, usually in a Java environment Why is SCORM not the same in all LMS? Required versus optional elements Advantage of attending a 'Plugfest'

• How does it work? Scripting and Packaging

  Content created in any format viewable in a Web browser, such as... Plain Jane HTML, optionally enhanced with Javascript functionality plus multimedia files Plug-ins: Java applets or Flash movies Browser requirement: LiveConnect, since SCORM API requires Javascript Single page or multiple pages, often in a frames environment Javascript code needed to connect with LMS through SCORM API adapter Must contain a manifest file (based on IMS), details organization of content 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

• Demos Sample SCO's and authoring tools

  Authoring Options Hand-code HTML based on reusable templates - tedious and error-prone SCORM plug-ins to tools such as SCORM wrapper for Dreamweaver SCORM content creators such as SoftChalk LessonBuilder Sample SCORM lessons SCO's need to be viewed in an LMS, for development Single SCO: Story presentation - Das Kartenspiel Multiple SCO's: Grammar lesson - Verb-Preposition Combinations

• Summary: Outlook for language learning

  Alternative between stateless Web sites and highly structured CBT Most useful for well-organized and tightly controlled learning materials SCORM 2004 adds compelling sequencing options For a brief intro: Learning Objects: Scorn or SCORM? in LLT

• Resource List

  SCORM 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 Tools 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