Flash and SCORM

When I checked my client's LMS, it looked that most of the SCOs were actually authored with Flash. This is particularly true with interactive content like exams and quizzes. The creators of Flash have provided decent Quiz templates and put some effort in order to get them working with the SCORM standard. Still, getting your quiz working with the LMS can be a pain, and googling for help does not yield very much.

Here's what I found:

• Alpha Engage has a nice "Getting started" example [1]
• Pipwerks has an overview how different flash versions handle ActionScript-JavaScript communication
• But, if you intend to use Flash learning interactions templates, forget direct interaction with the LMS. Macromedia provided a good introduction in 2002, named "Using Macromedia Flash MX learning interactions"
  

[1] ... they have a supercool Javascript + Flash navigation menu on their site too. Check it out! I wonder if the cool sliding effect would be possible with pure DHTML?

(Didn't look so cool in Firefox...)

SCORM project

I just landed on a SCORM consulting project without any previous experience in the area. Here's my first advice to other newbies:

• You should start with the free general and technical resources by Claude Ostyn. I haven't found much use for the ADL's standard documentation yet
• Search answers to common problems from ADL SCORM forums
  
• Reload Editor is the de facto open source tool for packaging SCORM 1.2 content
• Use Rustici Test Track as a staging LMS. You can try Reload SCORM 1.2 Player for local LMS simulation [1]
• You should test your environment. This includes testing your browser compatibility with ADL conformance test suites. However, I couldn't get the SCORM 1.2 test suite working. I used the standard Maritim Navigation example from the SCORM 1.2. Sample RTE package
• Check your compliance requirements. API changes between SCORM 1.2 and SCORM 2004 are significant. Many tools (like Reload Editor or Player) do not yet support SCORM 2004. Even SCORM 2004 (aka 1.3) has already three editions.
• Large organizations tend to have multiple LMS deployments. They want you to develop for the lowest common denominator. In my case it was the SCORM 1.2. (2001).

[1] At first, I couldn't get the "play" functionality working in reload-scorm-player 1.2.2. It just didn't do anything. After a reboot it mysteriously started working.