Why E-Learning Standards?

1. Why E-Learning Standards? • To enable interoperability on different platform • Protection of investment on content development • Exchange of content locally and globally

2. Why We Need Common Specifications 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).

3. 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)

4. 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)

5. 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)

6. 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.

7. 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

8. The Goal of SCORM • Learning Content under SCROM must have the following characteristics • Accessibility • Interoperability • Reusability • Durability

9. 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.

10. 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.