Scorm Certified

The Best Of Web E-learning: SCORM Certifications

If you are into human resources training, or if you are currently engaged in employee growth through advanced training and higher education, then you might be interested in e-learning. By employing the convenience of the Internet, employees can be educated through online channels. This can occur by simulating a classroom environment in an online discussion channel, which can ensure participation of as many students as possible, provided that the Internet connections of all participants are suitable to meet the e-learning server’s requirements.

E-learning is not as simple as sending learning modules through e-mail and waiting for participants to reply. It is certainly not as simple as constructing a website that can allow participants to chat with e-learning organizers and creators. E-learning has to be effective for a wide variety of people, and it requires that e-learning modules be designed so that people can learn the greatest amount of new concepts in the shortest amount of time. This means that modules have to be designed so that even when delivered online and read on the computer screen, participants will suffer the least number of headaches and still learn new things.

E-learning, moreover, is bound by a set of standards that ensure high quality for e-learning modules and websites that deliver e-learning modules. This set of specifications and standards is referred to as the Sharable Content Object Reference Model, or SCORM, which functions to control the quality of e-learning, as far as web-based applications are concerned. The SCORM standards define communications that occur between the e-learning client, which supplies content, and a host system, which is termed as the run-time environment. This run-time environment is a function of a built-in LMS, or learning management system, which governs what information or learning modules are sent to which e-learning participants.

Because e-learning modules are often packaged into ZIP, or compressed files, SCORM also defines how much content can and should be compressed into the ZIP package. All these specifications and standards come from the United States’ Office of the Secretary Defense, which is responsible for the Advanced Distributed Learning, or ADL Initiative. SCORM standards are based on the XML formatting language. E-learning software, therefore, must conform to SCORM standards before they can earn any SCORM certification – no mean feat, as e-learning software and sites must be validated by the ADL. Having a SCORM certification can advance sales of e-learning software and websites, which has resulted in many e-learning producers and creators to modify their wares to fit SCORM standards.

The SCORM standards are the product of years of modification and study. The original SCORM, or SCORM 1.0, was concerned only with proof of concept, and introduced the concept of Shareable Content Objects as they could be used in e-learning modules. The current version of SCORM, SCORM 2004, resolves many previous ambiguities in earlier SCORM versions. SCORM 2004 certification ensures that the e-learning module has the ability to use and share information about individual learners. SCORM 2004 certification also ensures that the e-learning software and modules can be used with a wide variety of software, and across a wide variety of Internet browsers.

If you are interested in obtaining SCORM certification for your e-learning software and modules, then do as much research as you can on what can constitute a complete SCORM certification. You will need to change your modules if they do not employ compliant scripts, or if they use formats that are not recognized by the different Internet browsers now available.

On the other hand, if you are interested in availing of e-learning solutions, look for the SCORM certification label. Having SCORM certification can ensure the quality of the e-learning module and software. With the best tools for e-learning, and with SCORM certification, you can be assured of effective e-learning that can translate into growth for your establishment.