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      Overview - Understanding SCORM and xAPI

      KnowledgeCity's courses plug seamlessly into other Learning Management Systems through SCORM or xAPI

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      Understanding SCORM and xAPI: Enhancing Learning Management Systems with KnowledgeCity

      In the evolving landscape of digital learning, two standards have emerged as central pillars for tracking and exchanging learning experiences: SCORM and xAPI. Both form the backbone of modern Learning Management Systems (LMS), allowing for a seamless and comprehensive assessment of learner progress and interactions. KnowledgeCity is proud to offer its range of high-quality course content to support both of these specifications, offering SCORM (1.2 or 2004) and TinCan (xAPI) formatted files. This enables integration into various LMS platforms, ensuring that our extensive library of courses is accessible and functional beyond the confines of KnowledgeCity’s own LMS.

      What is SCORM?

      Sharable Content Object Reference Model (SCORM) is a set of technical standards developed for eLearning software products. SCORM prescribes how online learning content and Learning Management Systems communicate with each other, ensuring interoperability, accessibility, and reusability of digital learning content.

      Key Features of SCORM:

      • Interoperability: With SCORM-compatible content, you can move courses from one LMS to another with ease, as long as both platforms are SCORM-compliant.
      • Reusability: Content can be reused across different SCORM-compliant systems without modification.
      • Accessibility: SCORM allows content to be accessible from any SCORM-compliant LMS.
      • Trackability: The standard enables the tracking and recording of user interactions, such as completion status, assessment scores, and time spent.

      Course formats that KnowledgeCity provides include:

      • SCORM 1.2
      • SCORM 2004
      • TinCan (xAPI)

        Bringing KnowledgeCity Courses to Your LMS

        KnowledgeCity's course offerings are compatible with a range of LMS platforms that meet SCORM and xAPI specifications. This means you can conveniently upload our SCORM files or TinCan packages into your chosen LMS, allowing your learners to benefit from KnowledgeCity’s high-quality and diverse course library. The process of integrating our courses into your LMS is straightforward:

        1. Download the course package files provided by KnowledgeCity. (These files are provided as .zip packages)
        2. Upload the files to your LMS following your platform’s specific course import procedures.
        3. Assign the course to learners, and track their progress as they complete the material.

        example_scorm_courseAn example course opened in the SCORM Cloud desktop platform. SCORM Cloud is a useful tool powered by Rustici Software and commonly used for testing playback of SCORM files.


        Bringing Your SCORM Courses to KnowledgeCity

        In addition to offering our course content in SCORM and xAPI formats for other LMS platforms, KnowledgeCity prides itself on the flexibility and adaptability of our own Learning Management System. We understand that your organization may already have a collection of SCORM-compliant courses or has invested in custom content tailored to your unique training needs. To serve you better, KnowledgeCity’s LMS provides administrators with the capability to upload and integrate SCORM files directly into the system, thereby enhancing your training repository with custom Lesson type course lessons.

        Uploading SCORM Content to KnowledgeCity's LMS

        knowledgecity-lms-scorm-lesson
        An example illustration of a SCORM file uploaded into a course lesson.


        LMS administrators can leverage the robust functionality of KnowledgeCity's platform by uploading SCORM packages to create and publish new courses. This process not only enriches the learning catalog available to your users but also streamlines the content management process. Below is a step-by-step guide to uploading SCORM files into the KnowledgeCity LMS:

        1. Access the Courses Feature of the LMS: Log in to your LMS admin dashboard and navigate to the "Courses" page on the left side-bar.

        2. Create a New Lesson-Type Course: Select the option to create a new Lesson type course.

        3. Create Your Course Chapters and Lessons: A Lesson type course will include at least one chapter with one lesson. Select the lesson(s) that will serve as your SCORM lesson(s). 

        4. Upload the SCORM File: Choose the SCORM file you wish to upload from your computer. The KnowledgeCity LMS supports SCORM 1.2 and SCORM 2004 file formats, ensuring compatibility and ease of integration.

        5. Configure Lesson Settings: Assign a title, description, and set the necessary parameters for the lesson, such as completion criteria and availability. By clicking the "Edit config" option of the selected lesson, you can also toggle the SCORM content to be launched in a separate window or to be viewed inline, within the content frame of the course page.

        6. Publish the Course: Once the SCORM file is uploaded, and all content and settings are appropriately configured, you can publish the lesson. It will then become available to learners as part of your course offerings.

        For additional information on creating Lesson type courses supporting your own SCORM content, be sure to check our supplemental article on this topic.

        Conclusion

        Whether you're a seasoned eLearning professional or new to LMS platforms, understanding the importance of SCORM and xAPI is essential for managing and leveraging online learning content effectively. Our support for these standards ensures that our high-quality educational content enhances the learning journey across various environments, providing a dynamic and adaptable learning experience for every user.