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Here is a list of tools to create SCORM packages, both open source and commercial. Moodle is a modular authoring tool for courses but at this time does not create SCORM packages.
==Creating SCORM Content==
Some people hand-code SCORM objects using HTML, JavaScript, and sometimes SWF files. There are some templates provided by ADL and by others, which make this process easier.
 
Others use SCORM authoring software to generate SCORM packages. This process is easier for non-technical users, but not as foolproof.


==Before Investing in SCORM Authoring Software==
==Before Investing in SCORM Authoring Software==
Line 12: Line 15:


In addition, an authorware production model, in which non-programmers produce content using graphical user interfaces, can present issues because non-programmers do not understand some of the basic tenets of the Web. It is a good idea to educate authorware users about best practices with regard to issues such as file size, file naming conventions, how to publish images for the Web, and so forth, before turning them loose with an authorware product.
In addition, an authorware production model, in which non-programmers produce content using graphical user interfaces, can present issues because non-programmers do not understand some of the basic tenets of the Web. It is a good idea to educate authorware users about best practices with regard to issues such as file size, file naming conventions, how to publish images for the Web, and so forth, before turning them loose with an authorware product.
==Tools for Authoring==
Here is a list of tools to create SCORM packages, both open source and commercial.  Moodle is a modular authoring tool for courses but at this time does not create SCORM packages.


==Free OpenSource==
==Free OpenSource==

Revision as of 14:12, 14 July 2011

Please refer to these notes before editing this page.

Creating SCORM Content

Some people hand-code SCORM objects using HTML, JavaScript, and sometimes SWF files. There are some templates provided by ADL and by others, which make this process easier.

Others use SCORM authoring software to generate SCORM packages. This process is easier for non-technical users, but not as foolproof.

Before Investing in SCORM Authoring Software

Please be aware that vendors can edit entries on this wiki page. No SCORM authoring software is without bugs, and some have significant issues when used with Moodle. Just because products are listed on this page does not mean that Moodle.org either supports or endorses them. Be sure to test all products extensively before purchase, and be sure that the built-in Moodle authoring tools will not meet your needs. Also take the time to search for past issues with a particular product in the Using Moodle SCORM forum, and read the rest of the Moodle SCORM documentation.

Many of these products piggyback on Powerpoint®, or present talking head video to a learner. Powerpoint presentations and talking heads do not promote social learning. It is valuable to consider, before embarking upon SCORM development, whether your organization wants to limit itself to the pedagogical approaches provided by the SCORM API.

It is also important to know that one does not need to purchase or obtain any product in order to produce SCORM content. SCORM content is a collection of HTML, JavaScript, and multimedia files, all of which can be produced by regular humans. Humans are, in addition, capable of testing your content in your LMS and writing code which addresses the nuances of your LMS, a valuable service which authorware does not provide.

In addition, an authorware production model, in which non-programmers produce content using graphical user interfaces, can present issues because non-programmers do not understand some of the basic tenets of the Web. It is a good idea to educate authorware users about best practices with regard to issues such as file size, file naming conventions, how to publish images for the Web, and so forth, before turning them loose with an authorware product.

Tools for Authoring

Here is a list of tools to create SCORM packages, both open source and commercial. Moodle is a modular authoring tool for courses but at this time does not create SCORM packages.

Free OpenSource

eXe OPEN SOURCE SCORM Development Package

The eXe project is developing a freely available Open Source authoring application to assist teachers and academics in the publishing of web content without the need to become proficient in HTML or XML markup. Resources authored in eXe can be exported in IMS Content Package, SCORM 1.2, or IMS Common Cartridge formats or as simple self-contained web pages.

http://exelearning.org/

ScenariChain Opale / OpaleSup

Website and community : http://scenari-platform.org/projects/scenari/en/pres/co/

Xerte OPEN SOURCE SCORM Development Package

The Xerte Project provides a full suite of open source tools for elearning developers and content authors producing interactive learning materials.

Standalone tool: Xerte http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/xerte/

Online tool: Toolkits http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/xerte/toolkits.htm

Freeware not OpenSource

Content Shaper Authoring Tool

Content Shaper - free authoring tool oriented at assembly, updates and maintenance of learning content across it's lifecycle.

Content Sharer utilizes a separation of content and presentation idiom, so it's suitable for adaptive learning, different delivery formats, content re-purposing.

http://www.c-shaper.com/

Courselab

CourseLab is a free program but is not open source. Feb 2009 current version is 2.4. Received an eLearnings Best of 2007 award.

CourseLab version 2.4 has a few bugs. First is with audio. Sometimes (for some reason not known to CourseLab) the audio will restart, creating an echo effect. You will need to un-check the "autostart" mark of the Video object (vidoe object is used to insert audio too)and then define an action on some event that fits the case (for example on the slide's afterdisplay event) choose METHOD (yourvideoobject, PLAY. this will play the audio after the slide is displayed.

Another issue is with FireFox browsers displaying graphics with CourseLab. It is stated in user's manual that some objects utilize Explorer-specific features and author should avoid using them, if he wants to use the course in multi-browser environment. These are: Gradient Box and all AutoShapes. AutoShapes are VML-objects and VML (Vector Markup Language) is not supported by FireFox. SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics - another vector format) could be the good alternative, but there are still problems with displaying inline SVG-objects in both Gecko-family and IE. (from CourseLab Support)

If these FireFox/Image display problems are not an issue then be sure to install the latest browser plug-ins. If you present content to non-IE users, do not use this authoring package.

There are some problems with Moodle configuration see http://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=96338#p425335

CourseLab home page


iSpring Free

iSpring PowerPoint add-in

iSpring Free is freeware for creating SCORM-compliant e-learning courses that can be integrated with Moodle CMS. Being a very handy e-learning authoring tool, iSpring Free works as a PowerPoint add-in, accurately converting PowerPoint presentations into Flash courses.

Along with supporting virtually all PowerPoint animations and transitions, iSpring Free preserves PowerPoint’s most advanced effects like trigger animations and hyperlinks. Additionally iSpring Free provides an opportunity to enrich the course with Flash objects and YouTube videos.

iSpring Free with its ease of use, conversion accuracy and established SCORM 2004 r3 compliance appears to be a great choice considering that it can be used free of charge for all commercial and non-commercial use.

iSpring Free publish window

iSpring Free is compatible with PowerPoint 2003/2007/2010 (32/64-bit) and comes in both 32 and 64-bit versions. The freeware can be downloaded on iSpring website.

See how easily iSpring Free produced courses are uploaded to Moodle.


MOS Solo

SCORM 2004 authoring tool. Entirely free.

http://www.mindonsite.com/en/produits/mos-solo/

MyUdutu

Free software for creating elearning courses with flash interactivity. Website here: http://www.udutu.com/ and an explanatory video here: http://www.udutu.com/my_udutu_video.html It is free to sign up and make the courses - there are many customisable templates enabling users to import images/video/audio/etc and incorporate them into scored questions of varying formats. The finished course can be exported as SCORM 2004 or SCORM 1.2 compliant -again for free and then hosted on a Moodle or other site. (The courses can also be hosted on the udutu site, either for free but with a watermark or for a fee) Quite intuitive to use and offering many features, it is however dependent on good connection to the site as it is created online. Also doesn't seem to like working in Opera.

Reload

Reusable eLearning Object Authoring and Delivery - NB it is rather technical and may only be suitable for those with an understanding of HTML and the underlying SCORM specification.

One problem with Reload is that it sometimes places the imsmanifest file 2 directories deep in the published SCORM package. For the solution to this issue, see https://docs.moodle.org/en/SCORM_FAQ#Manifest_not_found_error

http://www.reload.ac.uk/

Commercial

ActivePresenter

ActivePresenter is a useful tool supports for IT training operation, software demonstration, creating software manual. Notable outputs are Ajax Simulation and Flash Simulation. ActivePresenter supports both SCORM 1.2 and SCORM 2004. More information can be found at http://www.atomisystems.com.

Articulate

Articulate Presenter '09, coupled with Articulate Quizmaker '09, is a solution in developing SCORM content for Moodle. Both Articulate Presenter '09 and Articulate Quizmaker '09 are SCORM certified by an independent ADL certification expert (both SCORM 1.2 AND SCORM 2004). This means that Articulate Presenter '09 and Quizmaker '09 will seamlessly report results to Moodle by uploading the published project as a SCORM package. With the complete suite of products from Articulate, you'll be able to quickly create e-learning courses from PowerPoint and develop interactive content, quizzes, assessments, and surveys.

Here is a screencast [1] to show you how to upload and track from Articulate Quizmaker '09 in Moodle.

To learn more about the products from Articulate, go to http://www.articulate.com and download a 30 day trial of any of the products including: Articulate Presenter '09, Articulate Quizmaker '09, Articulate Engage '09, and Articulate Video Encoder '09.

Atlantic Link

The Atlantic Link product suite is a rapid, collaborative eLearning tool that creates Flash based eLearning content. This can export SCORM compliant modules which will run smoothly within moodle. It allows the creation of quizes, slideshows and software emulation.

You can find out more information about the Atlantic Link products at http://www.atlanticlinkglobal.com/

Camtasia

This is a commercial screen-recording product for producing demonstrations and tutorials. It has SCORM compliant output as an option, and permits quizzing and branching. The SCORM output option creates a single .zip file that is appropriate for uploading into a SCORM activity for Moodle. Retail price for Camtasia is US$299, but non-profit educational discounts of about 50% are offered. 30 day trials are also available.

More information can be found at http://www.techsmith.com/products.asp

Captivate

Adobe's Captivate software allows you to create fully functioning interactive lessons with quizzes, scoring, and integration (via SCORM) with Moodle. You can create anything from a simple slide show, to a complete branching software simulation or evaluation, all delivered via Flash without learning any code. It is the most straight-forward package and makes it a lot of fun to work with - even adding closed-captioning is really easy! Adobe have a page on Captivate here: [2] - the latest version is Captivate 4.

One difficulty with Captivate is that it tends to save important reporting values to a string in suspend_data, rather than in lesson_status, lesson_location, and the like. This makes it more difficult to write custom reports, or to debug interactions.

Composica

Composica is a social e-learning authoring system that offers real-time collaboration among team members and provides a powerful programming- free WYSIWYG environment to create and deliver high-quality interactive e-learning content with embedded social media.

Composica offers extensive multimedia support, including central repository, thousands of media files, customizable media player, built-in audio recording, automatic narration synchronization and mashups with leading external services such as YouTube, Google, Twitter, Facebook and more.

The system provides large variety of fully customizable e-Learning interactions which can be integrated into a test or a game and communicated to the LMS via SCORM 1.2 / 2004.

Composica encourages authoring teams to share knowledge and remove development bottle-necks through a unique groupware environment, powerful tasks system and task reports, project blog, comments, community dashboards and built-in chats.

In addition, Composica includes Social Media tools, to create a real learning community around each course - learners can share knowledge with others, learn from each other, comment on anything, rate everything and more. For more information see: http://www.composica.com/features/

ContentGenerator.net SCORM functionality

Software was successfully used at the CambsMoodle.org conference on July 10th 2008 - every teacher at the workshop was able to get their SCORM game uploaded and working. The software doesn't create extensive courses, but instead trackable interactive Flash games such as Fling the Teacher and Teacher Invaders.

  • Free software (+ some pay for) at http://www.contentgenerator.net/ - need to register on forum, but downloads free from there.
  • Select SCORM option within software
  • Generates single .zip file
  • Select 'Add SCORM / AICC' from add resource option in your course
  • Edit SCORM settings - copy settings from http://www.contentgenerator.net/images/scorm/16_settings_mostimportant.png
  • Some overly detailed instructions available here: http://www.contentgenerator.net/scorm/

Coral Presenter

With Coral Presenter, a plugin for PowerPoint, users can easily add audio and video files, as well as quizzes to create more engaging and interactive e-learning presentations. A ribbon menu, slide-level call-outs, attachments and links, custom tabs and one-click publishing are just some of the unique features of Coral Presenter. Coral will convert your content to Flash format and bundle all neccessary files and data for publishing to Moodle or any other SCORM 1.2 compliant LMS. Completion tracking can be set either by number of slides viewed or by quiz scores.

Coral Presenter was developed to work with Microsoft PowerPoint 2007, PowerPoint XP and PowerPoint 2003. Download a free trial at http://www.coral-learning.com/downloads.

DemoCreator

DemoCreator is a Flash-based screen recording software which allows users to generate screencast by recording computer screen. It's mainly used to create desktop tutorials and Web-based presentation for distance learning and training. The SCORM or AICC output package for LMS is also available. More information can be found at http://www.sameshow.com/demo-creator.html.

Helius Presenter

Helius Presenter (previously PointeCast Publisher) is a PowerPoint plug-in that automatically converts your PowerPoint XP/2002, 2003 and 2007 presentations into a highly compressed Flash presentation. The Pro version allows you to import and edit audio, import video, and create quizzes and surveys. It's SCORM 1.2 or 2004 compatible. It seems close to Articulate Presenter in terms of functionality but at considerably less cost. Free 15 day trial available from site: http://www.helius.com/products/scorm.php

iSpring PRESENTER

Sample iSpring-created Flash course

iSpring Presenter is a professional software for streamlied e-learning content authoring. It works as a PowerPoint 2003/2007/2010 add-in and transforms regular PowerPoint presentations into SCORM-compliant Flash courses ready for integrating with Moodle CMS. iSpring Presenter is super easy-to-use that allows to stay focused on content creation instead of software mastery.

iSpring Presenter produces quality Flash courses that preserve the most advanced effects and interactivity of your original PowerPoint presentations like action buttons and trigger animations.

iSpring Presenter features a built-in quiz authoring tool iSpring QuizMaker to enhance a course with interactive quizzes with multimedia (10 question types). Plus, iSpring Presenter provides unique Flash content protection feature that includes adding watermark to slides, password protection and Flash course playback restriction on set domains only. Engage learners with quizzes, presenter video, audio narrations, fully customized player navigation and look-and-feel.

iSpring Presenter toolbar

iSpring Presenter transforms PowerPoint into an e-learning authoring wizard.

Visit iSpring website to learn more about iSpring Presenter, view demo courses and download a 30-day fully functional trial version.

Here is a step-by-step instruction on how to integrate iSpring-made Flash courses to Moodle CMS.

iSpring QuizMaker

iSpring QuizMaker main window

Whether you are experienced or new to quiz creation, with iSpring QuizMaker you'll find it easy to create captivating Flash-based quizzes. Creating quizzes of 10 question types are as easy as filling out the form. It's possible to accompany quiz question with image, audio and video. The question answers can be randomized, and questions can be delivered in a different order for each quiz taker. You can check your work instanty with a live preview option and publish your quiz into SCORM-compliant package ready to be uploaded and tracked with Moodle CMS.

  • Accompany quiz questions with images, audio and video
  • Organize questions in question pools
  • Randomize answers and questions in a quiz
  • Set specific feedback based on user's result
  • Control testing time and number of attempts
  • Choose player color scheme and customize text labels
Sample Flash quiz‎ created with iSpring QuizMaker
  • Preview a question and an entire quiz
  • Have a single Flash (.SWF) file for each quiz
  • Receive quiz results via email or web server
  • Upload your quiz to any SCORM 1.2, SCORM 2004 or AICC LMS

Even though iSpring QuizMaker has a lot to offer, all its features are intuitively designed into a single window for your hassle-free quiz authoring experience.

To learn more about iSpring QuizMaker and test drive a full-functional 30-day trial, visit http://www.ispringsolutions.com/products/ispring_quizmaker.html.


Knowledge Anywhere's ICE Tool - Instructional Content Editor Tool

Create and publish SCORM-compliant courses with WYSIWYG tool, that are ready to be uploaded into any LMS. The Instructional Content Editor Tool offers many features including streaming video, pre-made page templates, storyboard export to Word function, language translation and many more. Anyone can create a high quality learning course easily. Learn more at http://www.knowledgeanywhere.com/ShowPage.aspx?pkContentID=102


Learning Essentials 2.0 for Microsoft Office

Works with licensed Microsoft Office and is a free add on, last upgraded 2007.

"With Learning Essentials, educators and students can get started, stay organized, and successfully complete high-quality work. Educators can create effective instructional resources, complete administrative tasks, and implement new teaching strategies. Using the Content Development Kit, educators can create additional templates and tutorials that integrate with familiar Microsoft Office applications. And students can use templates with project assistance to coach them through a variety of assignments.

"The English, French, German, Italian, Norwegian, and Spanish versions of Learning Essentials also support SCORM standards. SCORM Tools seamlessly convert Microsoft Office documents into standards-based e-learning content that can be managed and reused by any SCORM-conformant learning management system.

"Learning Essentials is a free download for schools that license Microsoft Office."

Note, someone with personal experience should update the overview to explain how this tool really works)

Microsoft's Learning Essentials homepage

Microsoft Learning Development System

Free tool from Microsoft that allows you to create SCORM resources using drag and drop.

"The LCDS is a free tool that enables the Microsoft Learning community to create high-quality, interactive, online courses. The LCDS allows anyone in the Microsoft Learning community to publish e-learning courses by completing the easy-to-use LCDS forms that seamlessly generate highly customized content, interactive activities, quizzes, games, assessments, animations, demos, and other multimedia."

This is an internal Microsoft tool. Has a few bugs and can crash.

NOTE READ the Help info. To upload to Moodle you will need to zip up your working directory then upload using the 'Add SCORM / AICC' from add resource option in your course

Microsoft's page for LCDS updated to 2.2 on Jan 2009

PowerPointForce

PowerpointForce is a MS windows program, which converts PowerPoint(2003/2007) slides into flash with different additional features and brings to you professional rapid flash-based presentations in the matter of minutes. SCORM 1.2 or 2004 compatible. Free 14 days trial, tutorials, examples are available from site: http://www.elearningforce.com/products/Pages/PowerPointForce.aspx

PowerQuizPoint - Quiz Creator

Create a Flash-Based Quiz from PowerPoint in two steps. PowerQuizPoint easily create interactive Macromedia Flash Quizzes from within PowerPoint. PowerQuizPoint is a convergence of power features in PowerPoint and Macromedia Flash. Flash Quizzes created with PowerQuizPoint is web ready. Insert interactive Quiz slides directly into PowerPoint presentations and Publish them to Macromedia Flash format.

PowerQuizPoint question

PowerQuizPoint PowerPoint Quiz Maker provides options like insert your questions with up to 4 choices per Questions, Separate slides for correct and incorrect answers and Question Bank facility.

www.digitalofficepro.com/powerpoint/quiz-creator.html

QuizCreator

QuizCreator is a powerful Flash quiz maker that enables trainers and educators to easily create SCORM compliant Flash quizzes with images, sounds, narrations and Flash animations to engage learners through the learning process and offers flexible results tracking and score reporting toolkit.

It supports 9 question types:True/ False, Multiple Choice, Multiple Response,Fill in the Blank, Drag and Drop-Matching,Drag and Drop-Sequences,Word Bank,Click Map and Essay. You could publish you quiz for Flash, Word, Excel or LMS.

QuizCreator

QuizCreator

QuizForce

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. SCORM 1.2 or 2004 compatible. Free 14 days trial, tutorials, examples are available from site: http://www.elearningforce.com/products/Pages/Quizforce.aspx

STT Trainer

STT Trainer from Kaplan IT Learning is a complete solution for creating software simulations, electronic user performance support, and documentation to train employees on critical web-, windows, and java-based business software. It can create SCORM compliant packages that can be used withing the moodle system.

You can find out more details about STT Trainer at http://www.stt-trainer.com/

ToolBook

[Moodle 1.9 / ToolBook Instructor 9.01] Tracking and bookmarking work well. The content should be exported using the SCORM 1.2 option; AICC and SCORM 2004 do not seem to work properly. Scoring works and is viewable within the tracking details, but does not transfer correctly into the Gradebook. see http://www.toolbook.com

TutorAuthor NG

TutorPro's TutorAuthor NG is a professional software application for quickly creating interactive lessons, training, demonstrations, and simulations. Anyone who needs to develop online product demonstrations, software simulations for e-learning, or online tutorials for user support will find TutorAuthor NG an ideal solution. TutorAuthor NG includes everything you need to capture actions in any application and instantly create a 3D life like simulation. The application is equally at home creating 'soft-skill' tutorials such as new employee introductions, company policy, in fact anything that can be taught electronically.

If you use TutorAuthor NG to create e-learning content, you can add realistic, fully interactive question slides, buttons, click boxes, and text entry boxes, and much more. TutorAuthor NG is SCORM 1.2, SCORM 2004, and AICC compliant, allowing effortless integration with any compliant Learning Management System (LMS).

More information can be found at http://www.tutorpro.com/Products/TutorAuthor_Next_Generation_

ViewletBuilder Enterprise

Qarbon's ViewletBuilder is cost-effective, comparatively easy to learn, and used by many thousands of corporate, educational, and government professionals since 1999. On Mac OSx and Windows PCs, it is used to create compelling, interactive online tutorials for distance learning and user support. ViewletBuilder Enterprise includes ViewletQuiz, for creating interactive assessments and surveys.

ViewletBuilder Pro, ViewletQuiz, and ViewletBuilder Enterprise are fully SCORM 1.2, SCORM 2004, and AICC compliant.

Qarbon.com provides the highest level of support and training for its customers.

More information and fully functional evaluation downloads are available at: http://forum.qarbon.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1007&p=3118#p3118

Wimba Create (formerly Course Genie)

A commercial tool allowing you to convert Word documents into CMS ready content. It's particularly suited for non-technical teachers who have large documents to display on Moodle and allows embedding of video, sound etc. When downloaded to your computer it generates a toolbar in Word giving options to enable easy conversion of the file to clean html pages which include navigation and interactive features. It claims to work on Windows 2000, Windows XP or Windows Vista Word 2000, XP, 2003 or 2007 and the official site is: http://www.wimba.com/products/wimbacreate/ .

Wimba Create documentation can be found at: http://www.wimba.com/services/support/documentation#wCr

Wondershare PPT2Flash Professional

Convert PowerPoint to Flash and upload the courses to Moodle. Note that this is not a free tool, rather there is a free trial version of the full software. Output from the trial version has a watermark on it.

  • Download the trial version of the software from http://www.sameshow.com/powerpoint-to-flash-pro.html
  • There is a plug-in menu in PowerPoint, click "Publish" button and select "LMS"
  • Select "SCORM 1.2" or "SCORM 2004"
  • Click "Convert" button
  • Select "Open output folder" after conversion is completed
  • Choose the output .zip file and upload to Moodle
  • Done!

Some overly detailed instructions available here: http://www.sameshow.com/powerpoint-to-flash/howto3.html

WordForce

WordForce is a MS Windows program. The main feature of the program is the conversion of MS Word (2007/2003) documents into web sites. SCORM 1.2 or 2004 compatible. Free 14 days trial, tutorials, examples are available from site: http://www.elearningforce.com/products/Pages/Wordforce.aspx

See also