e-Learning Blog

The standard configuration for SCORM materials is as follows:
・Manifest file
・Course HTML file (SCO)
・JS files and other configuration data

The manifest file contains information about the structure of the teaching materials.
When the teaching materials are displayed on the LMS, you can check the structure (table of contents), and this information is provided by the manifest file.
In addition, the mapping between the items on the table of contents and the actual teaching material data (e.g. Chapter 1, Section 1 is file 0101.html) is also described in the manifest file.

The instructional HTML file is the main body of the instructional material (the so-called "content" such as explanations and tests). It is based on an HTML file.
Within the instructional material, the smallest unit is called an "SCO" (pronounced "sko"). The range that constitutes one SCO varies depending on the instructional material.
For example, the instructional material may be divided into three chapters, but each chapter is treated as one SCO and completion may require viewing all chapters. Alternatively, the material may be divided into units such as chapters and sections, with each unit (e.g. "Chapter 1", "Chapter 2", "Chapter 3", "1-1", "2-1", "3-1") being an SCO.
In the table of contents of the LMS, each SCO is presented as a link and serves as a learning unit. Therefore, it may be easier to think of the units separated in the LMS as SCO.
The way SCO is divided can be designed freely.
When creating instructional material at our company, the unit (division) of SCO is an important confirmation item in the initial design stage.

Usually, learning history is acquired in units of SCO.

And, the information on viewing passed from the teaching material side to the LMS side, and the file set for passing or failing judgment are combined to create a SCORM teaching material. These files are written using JavaScript.

So, how do you create SCORM materials?
If you are creating them from scratch, the easiest way is to use a tool that supports SCORM.
With tools like iSpring and Storyline, you can generate SCORM materials by simply specifying the settings. Depending on the tool, you can also set detailed settings such as how to retrieve history.
These two tools have an English interface, so you will need knowledge and confirmation about the necessary settings for the materials and the SCORM version to specify when exporting. Also, although there are limitations such as not being able to set multiple SCOs for one material, you do not need much specialized knowledge.

If the use of the tool is difficult, specialized knowledge is still necessary.
If you already have e-learning materials and want to use them, you need to investigate the situation of the data to determine the necessary response. In the case of migrating to an LMS, it is also necessary to check if the version of SCORM supported by the LMS is different between old and new.

In addition, SCORM is a technology that is part of the certification system recognized by the e-Learning Consortium Japan (https://www.elc.or.jp/) (SCORM technologist) and requires knowledge and skills.

As mentioned earlier, in recent years, "LMS migration" has also been one of the trends in the e-learning industry.
Around 2000, when we started our e-learning content business, many well-known Japanese companies had released LMS.
Over 20 years have passed since then, and LMS has also changed with the times, and the roles it is expected to play have also changed.
In recent years, in addition to managing education, there has been a noticeable rise in the emergence of systems with more functions, such as "talent management systems" that also manage personnel information.
In addition, open source LMS such as Moodle and Totara have also appeared, increasing the options available.
The methods of introducing LMS have also changed. In the past, client companies would prepare for it by building their own dedicated servers, which required a relatively large amount of preparation and cost. However, now there are also LMS available as cloud services, and it is not uncommon to use them for a limited period of time. Overall, the situation is such that LMS can be introduced regardless of the size of the company using e-learning.
Unfortunately, there are also companies that have withdrawn from the LMS business, and it seems that the demand for replacement related support is also increasing due to such circumstances.

At Human Science, we offer various services to help our customers introduce and operate e-learning.
If you have any concerns, please feel free to contact us.

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