IM Lab NCCU 1 Introduction of SCORM: Sharable Content Object Reference Model Hao-Chuan Wang Computer Science Department National Chengchi University 2003.

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Introduction of SCORM:Sharable Content Object

Reference Model

Hao-Chuan Wang

Computer Science DepartmentNational Chengchi University

2003 May

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Outline

• Introduction

• SCORM Overview

• SCORM Content Aggregation Model

• Content Model

• Metadata

• Content Packaging

• Run-Time Environment

• Demo

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Introduction

• Computers in Education: developed over 30 years.– early years: CAI– with the impact of AI and cognitive science:

Intelligent Tutoring System (ITS)– Multimedia and internet: web-based learning

• A new term today: e-Learning

• What’s the next step of learning technology?

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Introduction

• Most web-based learning systems today:– Proprietary format– Contents are not exchangeable and sharable– Expensive costs for maintenance: ex. Updating and

extending

• Standard reference model is needed.– Many e-Learning specifications are proposed.– SCORM: unifying these specs.

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IM LabNCCUSCORM Overview

• Sharable Content Object Reference Model

• Defines a Web-based learning “ Content Aggregation Model “ and “ Run-Time Environment “ for learning objects.

• A model that references a set of interrelated technical specifications and guidelines designed to meet DoD’s requirements for Web-based learning content.

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IM LabNCCUReference Model

Criteria• Durable –no modification required as versions of

system software change.

• Interoperable –operate across a wide variety of hardware, operating systems and Web browsers.

• Accessible –can be indexed and found as needed.

• Reusable – can be modified and used by many different development tools.

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IM LabNCCUSCORM: A Collection of

Specs.

Metadata Dictionary(from IEEE)

Content Packaging(from IMS)

Meta-data XML Binding and bestPractice (from IMS)

Launch, Communication API (from AICC)

Data Model(from AICC)

Content Structure(derived from AICC)

BOOK 3: The SCORM Runtime Environment

BOOK 1: The SCORM Overview

BOOK 2: The SCORM Content Aggregation Model

From SCORM 1.2 Overview, http://www.adlnet.org

Others: Applications,Conformance…etc.

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Footnotes of overview

• Back to the viewpoint of practice:– SCORM separate contents from learning

platform.

– Contents are packaged following the spec. of Content Aggregation Model

– How contents communicate with Learning Management System (LMS) are specified in the spec. of Runtime Environment

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SCORMContent Aggregation Model

The Content Aggregation Model spec. consists of three components:

• Content Model : basic learning objects

• Meta-data : mechanism for describing instances

• Content Packaging : the structure and behavior

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Content Model• Defines how lower-level sharable, reusable learni

ng resources are aggregated to compose higher-level units of instruction.

• Learning resources are aggregated into:– Assets– Sharable Content Objects (SCO)– Content Aggregation

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Assets• Learning content in its most basic form is

composed of Assets. – Assets could be representation of types of media.

Ex. image, text, video clip.• Asset metadata

– allow for search and discovery within online repositories, thereby enhancing opportunities for reuse.

• The mechanism for binding Assets to Asset meta-data is the Content Package.

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Example of Assets

AssetXML Doc

AssetJavaScriptFunctions

AssetWhole

Web Page

AssetFlashObject

AssetJPEG

AssetWAV

AssetHTML

Fragment

AssetGIF

From SCORM 1.2 CAM, http://www.adlnet.org

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SCO

• A collection of one or more Assets that utilizes the SCORM Run-Time Environment to communicate with Learning Management System (LMS).

• A SCO represents the lowest level of granularity learning resources that can be tracked by an LMS.

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Example of SCO

AssetJPEG

AssetXML Doc

AssetWAV

AssetFlashObject

AssetJAVA ScriptFunctions

AssetGIF

AssetHTML

Fragment

From SCORM 1.2 CAM, http://www.adlnet.org

Communication with Runtime Env.

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Content Aggregation

• The Content Aggregation defines the content structure.

• A map (content structure) that can be used to aggregate learning resources into a unit of instruction.

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IM LabNCCUExample of Content

Aggregation

Aggregation

Learning Resource

Aggregation

Learning Resource

SCO

Asset

SCO

Learning Resource

Learning Resource

Learning Resource SCO

Asset

AssetAsset

Asset

Asset

Asset

Content Structure Content Aggregation

The SCORM Version 1.2 contains specialized instances of resources: Assets and SCOs.

Assets are learning content in its most basic form. Assets are electronic representations ofmedia, text, images, sound, web pages, chat session, assessment objects or other pieces of datathat can be delivered to a Web client.

SCOs represents a collection of one or more Assets and/or Sharable Resources that include aspecific launchable asset that utilizes the SCORM Run-time Environment to communicate withLMSs. A SCO represents the lowest level of granularity of content that is able to be tracked byan LMS using the SCORM Run-time Environment.

Content Aggregation is the process of aggregating resources (SCOs/Assets) into a definedstructure (content structure) to build a particular learning experience.

From SCORM 1.2 CAM, http://www.adlnet.org

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Meta-data

• The purpose of meta-data is to provide a common nomenclature enabling learning resources to described in a common way.

• Learning resources described with meta-data can be systematically searched and retrieved.

• Assets, SCO, Content Aggregation all use the same meta-data model.

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IM LabNCCUCategories of Meta-data

Elements• Nine main categories and totally about 80 tags.

1. General

2. Lifecycle

3. Meta-metadata

4. Technical

5. Educational

6. Rights

7. Relation

8. Annotation

9. Classification

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Symbol Table

Symbol Meaning

This symbol denotes that the element has one or more child elements.

This symbol denotes that the element contains data.

This text denotes the XML Schema Definition (XSD) type assigned to the element.

(no symbol)When no multiplicity symbol is present, this denotes that the element may exist one and only one time.

+The plus sign denotes that the element may occur one or more times within its parent element.

?The question mark denotes that the element may occur zero or one time within its parent element.

*The asterisk denotes that the element may occur zero to many times within its parent element.

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IM LabNCCUExample of Categories:

General• The General category groups the general information that d

escribes the resource as a whole.

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IM LabNCCUExample of Categories:

Technical• The Technical category groups the technical

requirements and characteristics of the resource.

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Educational• The Educational category groups the educational and pedagogic characteristics of the resource.

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Examples of Meta-data• around.jpg, 6 of 9 meta-data categories are used.

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Content Packaging

• A standardized way to exchange digital learning resources between different systems ( LMS ) or tools.

• Define the structure ( or organization ) and the intended behavior of a collection of learning resources.– A manifest file : list all of the resources or assets in

cluded in the package, the organization of the SCOs, the metadata for the package and the SCOs

– All the actual SCO files

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IM LabNCCUContent Packaging

(cont.)

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IM LabNCCUContent Packaging XML

Binding

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Example of Manifest File• Each learning object is packaged with “imsmanifest.xml”

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Run-Time Environment

• A common way to start learning resources, a common mechanism for learning resources to communicate with an LMS.

• The responsibility of the LMS : to determine which learning resource is to be launched.

• The responsibility of the SCO： to find the API Adapter.

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(cont.)

From SCORM 1.2 RTE, http://www.adlnet.org

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API for Communication• A set of predefined functions: allows the SCO to communic

ate with the LMS.

• All communication between the API Adapter and the SCO is initiated by the SCO.

• Threefold API Adapter objects :– Execution State : to handle execution state : LMSInitialize a

nd LMSFinish

– State Management : to handle errors :LMSGetLastError, LMSGetErrorString, and LMSGetDiagnostic

– Date Transfer : to transfer data to and from an LMS : LMSGetValue, LMSSetValue, and LMSCommit

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Transitions

From SCORM 1.2 RTE, http://www.adlnet.org

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DEMO• ADL’s Sample Run-Time Environment Version 1.

2.1– Run-time Environment Server Component: Imple

mented using Java Applications and Java Servlets. – Run-time Environment Client Component: Implem

ented using JSP, Java Applets, HTML, and JavaScript.

– Sample Course: Implemented using HTML and JavaScript.

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Conclusion

• Future of web-based learning: “Object-oriented” concepts. Learning objects.

• Easy to retrieve and find learning objects: Learning services around the web!

• More adaptive and effective learning experiences for learners.