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Learning. Standards. Systems.www.scorm.com

LMS and Content LMS and Content Conversion Tools for Conversion Tools for Multiple StandardsMultiple Standards

Mike RusticiRustici Software, LLC

[email protected]

+1-866-49-SCORM


Who We AreWho We Are

• Software development company• Founded by veterans of the e-learning

industry• Unique blend of both content and LMS

development experience• Exclusively focused on SCORM and other

learning standards• Active members of the ADL community• Successfully worked with dozens of clients


Our ServicesOur Services

• LMS Implementation• Content Conversion• Tool Development• Training• Consulting• Dispute Resolution / Mediation


Our Philosophy for ConversionOur Philosophy for Conversion

• Abstract complexities• Consolidate standards support using a

single code base• Constantly improve • Bend, but don’t break to

accommodate varying interpretations• Provide extensibility to accommodate

outliers


Philosophy – Abstract Philosophy – Abstract ComplexitiesComplexities

• Clients should not have to learn intricate details of standards

• We have a proprietary method for interacting with SCORM and other learning standards that empowers the content author / LMS developer by abstracting the complexities of learning standards


Philosophy – Abstract Philosophy – Abstract ComplexitiesComplexities

• Work in concepts familiar to learning developers

• Give a basic overview and provide a black box to integrate with

• Provide source code, best practice examples and training


Philosophy – Consolidate Philosophy – Consolidate Standards Support Using a Standards Support Using a

Single Code BaseSingle Code Base• Program against real world concepts

that can easily be translated to standards

• Use terms and concepts familiar to e-learning developers

• Data models are close enough to enable translation


Philosophy – Constantly Philosophy – Constantly ImproveImprove

• Create solutions that go beyond the standards in an effort to overcome our clients’ problems

• Integrate solutions to common problems back into common code base

• Leverage experience from all of our clients• Tools have been proven to be highly

reliable and have been certified in multiple applications


Philosophy – Bend, But Don’t Philosophy – Bend, But Don’t Break to Accommodate Break to Accommodate Varying InterpretationsVarying Interpretations

• The standards are an excellent base from which to bring together content and learning management systems. They do not, however, solve every problem

• Every vendor implements pieces of the standards differently

• Standards cannot address every situation• Don’t bicker, solve the problem• Resolving compatibility issues is important.

Products include significant logging and debugging capabilities


Philosophy – Provide Philosophy – Provide Extensibility to Accommodate Extensibility to Accommodate

OutliersOutliers

• Standards are great, but companies still need to differentiate themselves

• Integration through high-level learning concepts, allows easy support for new or proprietary standards


Rustici Software’s ProductsRustici Software’s Products

• We offer two products that embody these philosophies• Content – SCORM Driver (formerly RSECA)• LMS – SCORM Engine (formerly SCORM

Content Player or SCP)

• Benefits of using these products include:• Faster time to market• Higher quality end product• Easier upgrades


SCORM DriverSCORM Driver

• Rapidly convert existing content• After performing a single conversion,

content will conform to SCORM 1.1, SCORM 1.2, SCORM 2004 and AICC simultaneously

• Easy to integrate using intuitive JavaScript functions

• No knowledge of the underlying standards needed


SCORM Driver – Abstract SCORM Driver – Abstract ComplexitiesComplexities

• SCORM Driver interface is simple JavaScript functions

• Complexities are handled internally• Developer only needs to focus on

functionality, not implementation• Function Examples – “GetBookmark”,

“SetScore”, “SetPassed”, “SetReachedEnd”, “GetStudentName”


SCORM Driver – Abstract SCORM Driver – Abstract ComplexitiesComplexities

Start / Finish functions

Start ()

Finish ()

Suspend ()

TimeOut ()

Unload ()

SetReachedEnd ()

ConcedeControl()

Storing and Retrieving General Data

GetStudentID ()

GetStudentName ()

SetBookmark (strBookmark)

GetBookmark ()

SetDataChunk (strData)

GetDataChunk ()

GetLaunchData ()

WriteComment (strComment)

GetComments ()

GetLMSComments ()

Time Tracking

GetPreviouslyAccumulatedTime ()GetSessionAccumulatedTime ()SetSessionTime (intMilliseconds) PauseTimeTracking ()ResumeTimeTracking ()GetMaxTimeAllowed ()DisplayMessageOnTimeout ()ExitOnTimeout ()

Testing

GetPassingScore ()SetScore (intScore, intMaxScore, intMinScore) GetScore ()RecordMultipleChoiceInteraction (strID, strResponse, blnCorrect, strCorrectResponse)

Utilities

IsLoaded ()WriteToDebug (strInfo) ShowDebugWindow ()GetLastError ()GetLastErrorDesc ()CommitData ()

State Functions

GetStatus ()SetPassed ()SetFailed ()ResetStatus ()GetEntryMode ()GetLessonMode ()GetTakingForCredit ()

Objectives

SetObjectiveStatus (strObjectiveID, Lesson_Status)GetObjectiveStatus (strObjectiveID) SetObjectiveScore (strObjectiveID, intScore, intMaxScore, intMinScore) GetObjectiveScore (strObjectiveID)

Preferences

SetAudioPreference (PlayPreference, intPercentOfMaxVolume)GetAudioPlayPreference ()GetAudioVolumePreference ()SetLanguagePreference (strLanguage) GetLanguagePreference ()SetSpeedPreference (intPercentOfMax) GetSpeedPreference ()SetTextPreference (intPreference) GetTextPreference ()


SCORM Driver – Consolidate SCORM Driver – Consolidate Standards Support Using a Standards Support Using a

Single Code BaseSingle Code Base• Support multiple standards after

performing a single conversion


SCORM Driver – Constantly SCORM Driver – Constantly ImproveImprove

• Integrate support for new interpretations into the common code base

• Monitor community and actual practice for misinterpretations

• Customers leverage the experience of a much wider community dramatically improving compatibility


SCORM Driver – Bend, But SCORM Driver – Bend, But Don’t Break to Accommodate Don’t Break to Accommodate

Varying InterpretationsVarying Interpretations• Make every effort possible to accommodate

varying interpretations and implementations• Some examples

• Interaction Result Formatting• Concede Control• Forced Commits• Exit types – default to “suspend”, avoid “logout”• Flexibility in parsing AICC messages• Magic Time Interval

• Robust debugging and logging functionality


SCORM Driver – Provide SCORM Driver – Provide Extensibility to Accommodate Extensibility to Accommodate

OutliersOutliers• Our flexible architecture allows new or proprietary

standards to be integrated on demand


SCORM Driver – Case Study: SCORM Driver – Case Study: RedHawkRedHawk

• In response to customer demand for SCORM conformance, RedHawk used the SCORM Driver to quickly convert their existing library.

• As sales increased, RedHawk experienced a greater demand for AICC conformance and used a SCORM Driver extension to achieve AICC conformance with no additional coding.

• One of RedHawk’s clients uses a proprietary LMS which requires custom integration. Rustici Software developed a new SCORM Driver extension to accommodate the client without requiring any changes to RedHawk’s content.

RedHawk (www.ethicscoach.com)

RedHawk offers complete, one-stop ethics and compliance programs. They deliver code of conduct development, both online and instructor-led courses, Board of Director resources, consulting and a full spectrum of coaching and training materials delivered via poster, newsletter, and internet streaming technology. Their clients include Sony, Merck, Sara Lee, Halliburton and Kellogg.


SCORM Driver – Case Study: SCORM Driver – Case Study: ArticulateArticulate

• Articulate Presenter and Quizmaker are industry leading tools for rapid e-learning development

• Articulate’s products already output SCORM and AICC conformant content, however they wanted to ensure that their products were the absolute best of breed

• Articulate integrated the SCORM Driver into its products to unify its standards code and to ensure the broadest possible compatibility for the thousands of users of its products

Articulate (www.articulateglobal.com)

With customers in more than 40 countries, Articulate® is the world leader in rapid e-learning and communications. Articulate is dedicated to providing powerful, intuitive technologies that enable organizations to train and communicate rapidly, widely and effectively with everyone involved in success. That's what Articulate is all about -- putting the power of advanced technology for knowledge transfer in the hands of everyone with the knowledge and need to communicate. Their goal is to ensure that you can train, motivate, inform and persuade today the people who will move your

company forward.


Rustici Software’s SCORM Rustici Software’s SCORM EngineEngine

• Rapidly converting existing LMS’s • Essentially a plug-in component for

LMS products• LMS will be able to deliver SCORM

1.1, SCORM 1.2, SCORM 2004 and AICC content

• Easy to integrate using a discrete set of integration points


SCORM Engine – Abstract SCORM Engine – Abstract ComplexitiesComplexities

• The SCORM Engine is “LMS-agnostic”• A well defined set of integration

points based on common learning terms facilitates integration

• Some integration points include• “Course” association• “Assignment” association• Progress rollup


SCORM Engine – Consolidate SCORM Engine – Consolidate Standards Support Using a Standards Support Using a

Single Code BaseSingle Code Base• Some integration work and code is required• This integration is completely separated from core

player logic to facilitate updates• The existing LMS only interacts with a well-defined API• Completely skin-able to seamlessly blend with

existing products


SCORM Engine – Constantly SCORM Engine – Constantly ImproveImprove

• Includes solutions to many common problems• Multi-lingual / multi-cultural capabilities• Two solutions to the cross domain scripting problem:

• Document.domain manipulation • Run-time service on the content server

• Other features:• Completely client-side sequencing engine• Non-blocking tunable server communications• Robust sequencing look-ahead algorithms • Intelligent blocked state error messages

• Several deployment configurations• Optimized support for major databases• Many, many more features


SCORM Engine – Bend, But SCORM Engine – Bend, But Don’t Break to Accommodate Don’t Break to Accommodate

Varying InterpretationsVarying Interpretations• Many common compatibility issues

already solved• Debugging features include:

• API call logs• Sequencing function trace logs• Detailed pseudo-code trace logs• Imperfect manifest warnings



Varying InterpretationsVarying Interpretations• Numerous course-level configuration settings to deal with

less than perfect content and to optimize content delivery• Window sizing• Delivery method – frameset vs. new window• Control availability• Rudimentary (as opposed to “simple”) sequencing for 1.2

• Parameters can be set through proprietary metadata extensions

• When possible, settings are based on emerging standards• Gracefully handles slightly imperfect manifests• Allows for the importation of individual objects to facilitate

LCMS behavior



Varying InterpretationsVarying Interpretations


SCORM Engine – Provide SCORM Engine – Provide Extensibility to Accommodate Extensibility to Accommodate

OutliersOutliers• Extensibility is harder to quantify• Able to support a very wide variety of LMS

features, requirements and implementation styles

• Everything that is not core functionality is implemented in the integration layer

• Integration layer methods all accept custom configuration information allowing their implementation to be based on whichever factors the LMS developers deem necessary.


SCORM Engine – Case Study : SCORM Engine – Case Study : HealthStreamHealthStream

• Enhanced their HLC LMS to support SCORM 1.2• LMS certified by ADL• ADL auditor remarked it was

their smoothest certification ever• Passed certification on first

attempt.• LMS supports over 1.1 million

users and 40,000 daily course completions

• About to release update to support 2004• Simple conversion using SCORM

Engine updates provided by Rustici Software

• Many return engagements to convert content libraries• Converted more than 650

courses in under 2 months for Tenet Hospitals after their failed efforts at supporting SCORM

Healthstream (www.healthstream.com)

HealthStream, Inc. (Nasdaq: HSTM), based in Nashville, TN, is the leading provider of e-learning solutions to the healthcare industry. Healthcare organizations use HealthStream's e-learning solutions to improve learning, increase compliance, and enhance organizational effectiveness for nurses, technicians, staff workers, physicians, and all clinical and non-clinical healthcare employees throughout the enterprise. Pharmaceutical and medical device companies use HealthStream's e-learning solutions to launch educational programs and reach healthcare professionals. Content providers use HealthStream's e-learning solutions to expand the reach of their programs worldwide.


SCORM Engine – Case Study : SCORM Engine – Case Study : HealthStreamHealthStream

• HealthStream takes full advantage of the power of the SCORM Engine• Cross domain solutions allow for highly efficient

content delivery over the Akamai network• Custom configuration information allows the

HLC to scale horizontally across multiple web farms database servers in geographically dispersed data centers

• Custom configuration allows the HLC to provide annotations on internally produced SCORM content


SCORM Engine – Case Study:SCORM Engine – Case Study:United States Marine CorpsUnited States Marine Corps

• Recognized the value of a solution pre-built by an experienced vendor

• Had to overcome numerous challenges:• Worldwide content delivery

network• Provide disconnected access to

Marines on the battle field• Content from numerous vendors• Limited bandwidth over satellite

connections• Adhere to DODI 1322.xx

• SCORM Engine met all of the demanding requirements out of the box

• Provided the most cost-effective solution with the least risk

• So impressed with the product that another license was procured for the entire Department of the Navy

United States Marine Corps

The Marine Corps College of Continuing Education (CCE) provides a variety of Distance Education and Training opportunities for all Marines. Their online learning management system, MarineNet, provides both military and civilian education to all Marines wherever they are stationed, while their worldwide seminar program supports the Officer Professional Military Education (PME) distance education programs (DEP).


SCORM Engine – Case Study:SCORM Engine – Case Study:SDA StudioSDA Studio

SDA Studio (www.sdakft.hu)

SDA Studio is based in Budapest, Hungry. With over 70% of the market share, their Neptun.NET platform is the leading LMS in that country.

• Market demand in Eastern Europe demanded SCORM conformance

• Working remotely across time-zones, languages and cultures we fully integrated the SCORM Engine in a matter of a couple weeks

• Fully internationalized the SCORM Engine to work in Hungry and another other cultures


SCORM Engine – Case Study:SCORM Engine – Case Study:SDA StudioSDA Studio


Questions?Questions?

Mike RusticiRustici Software, LLC

[email protected]

+1-866-49-SCORM

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