Why E-Learning Standards?

• To enable interoperability on different platform

• Protection of investment on content development

• Exchange of content locally and globally

Surprising as it seems, before June 2000 we couldn’t . . .

Move a course from one web-based Learning Management System (LMS server) to another.

Run or reuse course content across different LMS systems (multiple proprietary vendor tools).

Create searchable learning content or media repositories across different LMS environments Servers).

Why We Need Common Specifications

E-learning Standards Trends

• Industry moving a set of standards that can open up the e-learning management and distribution environment

• A number of organizations working to develop e-learning standards– Airline Industry CBT Committee (AICC)• Focus on standards for airline training e.g. tests,

lessons, modules ect. (www.aicc.org)

E-learning Standards Trends– EDUCAUSE Institutional Management System Project (IMS)

• Vendor group working to build standards for e-learning based on work of AICC (www.imsglobal.org)

– Advanced Distributed Learning (ADL)• US Federal government initiative (www.adl.org)• Development of SCORM

– Allince of Remote Institutiopnal Authoring and Distribution Network for Europe (ARIADNE)• An industry association focusing on e-learning standards issues

(ariadne.unil.ch)

E-learning Standards Trends– IEEE Learning Technology Standards Committee (IEEE

LTSC)• Accredits the standards for the US that emerge from the other

groups (ltsc.ieee.org)– ISO/IEC JTC1 SC36 (ITLET)

• IT for Learning, Education and Training– Advanced Learning Infrastructure Consortium (ALIC)

• Japanese Consortium for promotion of e-leaning technology and infrastructure (www.alic.gr.jp)

– e-Learning Consortium Japan (eLC)• Vendor/User company working to promote e-learning business

and technology (www.elc.or.jp)

SCORM - Definition

Sharable Content Object

Reference Model

A software model that defines the interrelationship of course components, data models, and protocols such that content “objects” are sharable across systems that conform with the same model.

The SCORM - What Is It?A “Reference Model” that:• Integrates industry specifications from many

other organizations– AICC, IMS, IEEE, ARIADNE, etc.

• Provides a unified learning content model• Defines a standardized web “run-time”

environment• Takes the first step on the path to defining a

true learning architecture

The Goal of SCORM

• Learning Content under SCROM must have the following characteristics– Accessibility– Interoperability– Reusability– Durability

The Goal of SCORM

• Accessability– Content can be identified and located when it is

needed and as it is needed• Interoperability– Content will function in multiple applications,

environment and software/hardware configurations regardless of the tools and platform used to create.

The Goal of SCORM

• Reusability– Content is independent of learning context and

can be used for many different learners.

• Durability– Content does not require modification to operate

as software systems are changed or upgraded.