The Open Standards Content Player

The Content Player Building Block allows an Instructor to add content that conforms to SCORM, IMS, or NLN standards to a course. Instructors see IMS, SCORM, and NLN (depending on which the Administrator has made available) as additional types of content items, available in the Action Bar dropdown list in Content Areas.

Instructors and users interact with IMS, SCORM, and NLN content just as they would other types of content. From the users’ perspective, IMS, SCORM, or NLN content items are accessed in the same way as any other course content. IMS, SCORM, or NLN content can even be added to a Learning Unit.

When adding SCORM, IMS, or NLN data, the Instructor can make selections about navigation and display. If the Instructor wishes to add an item to the Gradebook, this can also be done from the Add Content page. In addition to giving a grade in the Gradebook, when a user interacts with the content, the Instructor can view the user’s progress in the Gradebook including total viewing time and completion status.

The Open Standards Content Player Building Block supports the SCORM standard and the IMS standard for Web content, as well as NLN Content, which conforms to SCORM and IMS.

The content that is created to meet these specifications is called a package because all the files are gathered in a zipped format. The Content Player unzips the package and accesses components as they are needed.

IMS Content

The Content Player Building Block supports content that conforms to the IMS Content and Packaging 1.1.2 standard with the webcontent attribute. When adding this content type to a course, it is useful to note that most of these types of packages do not track User Attempt Details. Otherwise, no major differences will be seen.

Further information about IMS Content can be found at: http://www.imsproject.org

SCORM Content

The Content Player Building Block supports content that conforms to the SCORM 1.2 standard and the SCORM 2005 standard. The Instructor does not need to determine ahead of time whether the content is designed as 1.2 or 2005 compliant, as both types can be played.

Further information about SCORM Content can be found at: http://www.adlnet.org

NLN Content

The Content Player Building Block supports NLN content, which conforms to SCORM and IMS standards. The United Kingdom NLN Materials Team is responsible for commissioning and developing e-learning materials for the NLN, and offers advice on best practices in integrating the NLN materials into teaching and learning schemes.

Further information about NLN Content can be found at: http://www.nln.ac.uk/ 

The Content packages are created to comply with the individual standards. Each institution may have a policy on which content it uses and where the content comes from. Some institutions build their own SCORM or IMS packages, and several private companies also produce the content. Some content may also be available for general use.

The availability of the Content Types can be controlled on the Manage Tools page from the Control Panel. The Content Types are controlled on the Content Type Availability page. Depending on the Administrator’s settings, one or all of the Content Player Content types may be available for the Instructor to use.

When a Gradebook Item is associated with the SCORM, IMS or NLN content item, the Instructor will be able to view data related to the users’ interactions with the content. This is called Attempt Data.

The details may include the total time the user has viewed each learning object, the completion status, responses to any questions contained in the package, and whether the response was correct. The purpose of the attempt data is to help the Instructor in determining a score for the Gradebook item.

To access this information on the Attempt Details page:

1. Click Gradebook.

2. Click on the user attempt, the Modify Grade page loads.

3. Click View on the Modify Grade page, the Attempt Details page loads.

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