SCORM Authoring Tools
I frequently get asked about content authoring tools and what is available, particularly whilst we all await Grava. Just recently I’ve come across a new product from Digisoft Multimedia called Learning Objects Builder which I’ve detailed below. I’ve also used this blog post to summarise what else is available ….. or at least what I’m currently aware of.
Learning Objects Builder
Learning Objects Builder has been designed to help teachers develop multimedia courses. Courses are made up by the following Learning Object typologies: lesson, comprehension test, vocabulary and map of contents. InfoPath is used to create the four different Learning Objects whilst Workstation Student lets the students become content creators as well.
The courses developed with Workstation can be released on CDs/DVDs, or distributed through a LAN, Intranet and the Internet. Learning Objects Builder is in compliance with AICC, SCORM 1.2, SCORM 2004 and IMS e-learning international standards, allowing course publishing and distribution through the SharePoint Learning Kit and other SCORM learning platforms.
Learning Objects Builder Workstation can be installed on the authors’ PCs or centrally on a SharePoint server (see Learning Objects Builder SharePoint Edition).
Learning Objects Builder SharePoint Edition
Learning Objects Builder Workstation (both versions for students and teachers), can be made available on the server as a SharePoint application. The Learning Objects Builder tools (Lesson, Test, Vocabulary and Compass) are installed in the server farm as separate features, each one based on a different content type.
The platform administrator can enable sites, allowing authors to create Learning Objects inside prearranged module libraries. Graphic resources and audio/video files can be selected from themed picture libraries, and used to build learning objects.
The publishing and assigning procedure of a course through the Compass tool is easy and fast. The SCORM course (.zip archive compliant with the IMS specifications) can be published in a document library and assigned to students just with a mouse click, using the SharePoint Learning Kit , or uploaded and assigned expressly from any other existing SCORM-compliant LMS platform.
For further information on Learning Objects Builder go to www.learningobjectsbuilder.co.uk web site or contact Digisoft Multimedia by email (info@learningobjectsbuilder.co.uk).
Other Authoring Tools
There are a growing number of other authoring tools available from the simple Learning Essentials SCORM packaging tool, to the far more comprehensive THESIS product. Here’s the list of products that have come to my attention. There are undoubtedly others.
Microsoft Tools
Learning Essentials for Microsoft Office provides education-specific tools for students and educators to get the most out of their familiar Microsoft Office applications. It includes SCORM tools for authoring additional content and e-learning resources, a smaller network-based installation and centralized server administration.
http://www.microsoft.com/learningessentials/default.mspx
The Learning Content Development System (LCDS) is a free tool that enables you to create high quality, interactive, online courses. Virtually anyone can publish e-learning courses by completing the easy-to-use LCDS forms that seamlessly generate highly customized content, interactivities, quizzes, games, and assessments—as well as Silverlight-based animations, demos, and other multimedia. Register to download the free LCDS release, and then start creating your own e-learning courses today!
http://www.microsoft.com/learning/tools/lcds/default.mspx
Grava – currently available as a Technology Preview (CTP3) Grava is the code name for a new set of tools from Microsoft’s Education Products Group that is designed to allow the education community to author, assemble, and present rich-interactive content that will increase discovery and allow learners to go at their own pace and learning style. The Grava platform includes the following building blocks: Authoring, Playback, and Software Development Kit
https://connect.microsoft.com/Grava
Partner Products
THESIS - from HunterStone - is a global leader in rapid content conversion and creation for SCORM e-Learning environments. THESIS Librarian is a MS SharePoint based SCORM repository.
- Create online training courses using familiar Microsoft Office applications
- Reduces time to convert/create SCORM objects
- Broader range of content contributors
- Increased utilization of existing technologies Streamlines content collaboration
- Convert any web presentable content to SCORM
- Create SCORM Assessments
http://www.hunterstone.com/
CDSM – Pedagogue is an eLearning content development tool that allows you to create media rich, interactive content for use over the Web, on CD-Rom or virtual learning environment.
The application is extremely intuitive and user-friendly, allowing you to create high quality content using simple form fills. Choose from a range of content types including text, image, animation, video. Text content can be created on the fly in Pedagogue. Images, animations, videos, Word docs, pdfs, PowerPoint , and many more asset types that Pedagogue accepts, need to be uploaded to Pedagogue ready for use in the application. We also provide a range of interaction types, such as multiple choice, drag and drop and text entry, that you can use for formative or summative assessment - these interactions can be marked and the scores saved or unmarked giving the user the freedom to attempt them repeatedly.
In terms of workflow, Pedagogue has a built in permissions system that means that different project roles, for example, administrator, author and publisher can be catered for in each content development project. This allows you to manage your projects appropriately, giving you peace of mind in relation to the security of your content.
The application has been built to cater for accessibility and the needs of a wide range of different learners.
http://www.cdsm.co.uk/products/pedagogue/index.htm
eLearningforce – QuizForce is a MS Windows program that provides a comprehensive but easy-to-use set of tools for creating highly customized Flash-based quizzes and surveys for non-programmers. Users can customize the layout, colours, label text and graphics according to your choice and use images and sound files when inserting questions into your quiz. You can either power your website or connect quizzes to your LMS. Complementary tools include WordForce and PowerPointForce.
http://www.elearningforce.biz/e-learning-software/e-learning-software.html
