TELEStraining Inc. The eTrainerCB: Using Instructional Templates To Create Training SCO’s Lucio Teles, Ph.D., President, TELEStraining Inc. Fuchun Xiao,

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The eTrainerCB: Using Instructional Templates To Create Training SCO’s

Lucio Teles, Ph.D., President, TELEStraining Inc.Fuchun Xiao, System Analyst, TELEStraining Inc.

www.telestraining.com

Learning and Instructional Development CentreSimon Fraser UniversityJuly 29th, 11:00 am, PST


1.What is the eTrainerCB Course Builder2. The 10 step process to create an online course3. The use of XML-based instructional templates4. SCORM compliance5. Export to LMS platforms and interoperability of content: Splash, Winzip and Webfolder6. SCORM-based courses7. Introduction to SCORM’s Run Time Environment 8. The eTrainerCB, SCORM, and Next Steps9. Conclusions


1.What is the eTrainerCB Course BuilderThe eTrainerCB Course Builder is an Instructional Design and Production tool to create online courses and modules that are SCORMcompliant. ETrainerCB is programmed in Java. Currently it is a server-based application. It uses XML templates for creating the course structure or diagram.

eTrainerCB server technical RequirementsHardware-X86 Processor-128 Mbytes RAM-20 Gbytes Hard driveSoftware-Windows NT 2000 server – IIS (FTP)- JSP Enabled Web servers optimized for TOMCAT 4.0.6- ODBC Compliant Database System optimized for MS SQL Server 7.0


2. The 10 step process to create an online course1. Basic course information2. Course administration3. Course overview and expectations4. Mode and media5. Student evaluation6. Delivery format7. Course structure and content (Web authoring tool)8. Testing the course 9. Course deployment10. Accessing your course


3. The use of XML-based instructional templates

The 10 Step template is an XML templateIt automatically generates the metatagging for the modules as the instructor enters modules’ information.

At the end of the process the SCO units or moduleshave been created and a syllabus for the information ofall SCOs is also created.

Customization of course design via XML templatesis a combination of work of a programmer and a content creator (instructor).


4. SCORM compliance

Course units can be created in Step 7. The units of course are SCO’s containing html files and Java scripts

Instructors (instructional designers) develop content structure and sequencing behaviors in close contactwith programmers to ensure SCOs meet technical implementation guidelines.

SCO’S to contain title, pre-requisite, learning objectives, content, quizzes/testing.


5. Export to LMS platforms: interoperability of content

Currently export is done to Winzip, Webfolder, Edusplash.

To make content exportable to a particular LMS platform, the eTrainerCB must be adopted by that particular platform and changes in the LMS need to be introduced to interface with the eTrainerCB.


6. SCORM-Based Courses

A SCORM-based course has the following elements:

Consists of SCO’s, multimedia files, and XML files to

describe the structure and contents of the course and

the locations of each file.

Shall contain a file called imsmanifest.xml.

Shall contain XML Schema files as specified by SCORM

for the validation of imsmanifest.xml.

Contains JavaScript files providing functions that are

recognized by SCO’s and the LMS that is launching them.


7. Introduction to SCORM’s Run Time EnviromentSCORM 1.3 introduces a new concept called SCA (Shareable Content Assets), and a SCA is effectively a SCO without JavaScript.

SCORM 1.3 also introduces specifications for the sequencing of course materials.

TELEStraining’s view of a SCORM-compliant package is a course package that could be deployed on the sample RTE provided by ADL.

ADL’s sample RTE implements the SCORM specifications and simulates the basic functions of an LMS, and is used as a benchmark for LMS vendors.

Courses created by eTrainer Course Builder have been tested and successfully run on the SCORM Version 1.3 Sample RTE Beta-2, and the SCORM Version 1.2 Sample RTE.


The eTrainerCB has the option to deploy courses as SCORM packages, and these packages can be exported to any SCORM-compliant LMS. It does this by generating SCO’s, JavaScript files and XML files automatically and conforming to the SCORM specifications.

Next steps:

•generation of SCA’s as well as SCO’s•Improving the features of the HTML editor•Provision of an editor to add optional elements in XML files and to modify generated metadata•Integration of Tomcat with Apache, and switching from MS SQL Server to MySQL•Customisation to the requirements of individual clients

8. The eTrainerCB, SCORM, and Next Steps


9. ConclusionsThe instructional design process can be successfully combined with development of SCORM compliant learning objects via utilization of XML-basedInstructional Templates.

Metatagging becomes part of the instructional process.

Sequencing of learning objects for various instructionalapproaches is facilitated with SCORM 1.3, allowing forthe introduction of pedagogical designs.

The challenge for instructional designers is how to combine access to learning objects with peer-to-peer and instruction interactions.

Documents

TELEStraining Inc. The eTrainerCB: Using Instructional Templates To Create Training SCO’s Lucio Teles, Ph.D., President, TELEStraining Inc. Fuchun Xiao,