TELEStraining Inc. The eTrainerCB: Using Instructional Templates To Create Training SCO’s Lucio Teles, Ph.D., President, TELEStraining Inc. Fuchun Xiao, System Analyst, TELEStraining Inc. Learning and Instructional Development Centre Simon Fraser University July 29 th, 11:00 am, PST

TELEStraining Inc. 1.What is the eTrainerCB Course Builder 2. The 10 step process to create an online course 3. The use of XML-based instructional templates 4. SCORM compliance 5. Export to LMS platforms and interoperability of content: Splash, Winzip and Webfolder 6. SCORM-based courses 7. Introduction to SCORM’s Run Time Environment 8. The eTrainerCB, SCORM, and Next Steps 9. Conclusions

TELEStraining Inc. 1.What is the eTrainerCB Course Builder The eTrainerCB Course Builder is an Instructional Design and Production tool to create online courses and modules that are SCORM compliant. 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 Requirements Hardware -X86 Processor -128 Mbytes RAM -20 Gbytes Hard drive Software -Windows NT 2000 server – IIS (FTP) - JSP Enabled Web servers optimized for TOMCAT ODBC Compliant Database System optimized for MS SQL Server 7.0

TELEStraining Inc. 2. The 10 step process to create an online course 1.Basic course information 2.Course administration 3.Course overview and expectations 4.Mode and media 5.Student evaluation 6.Delivery format 7.Course structure and content (Web authoring tool) 8.Testing the course 9.Course deployment 10. Accessing your course

TELEStraining Inc. 3. The use of XML-based instructional templates The 10 Step template is an XML template It automatically generates the metatagging for the modules as the instructor enters modules’ information. At the end of the process the SCO units or modules have been created and a syllabus for the information of all SCOs is also created. Customization of course design via XML templates is a combination of work of a programmer and a content creator (instructor).

TELEStraining Inc. 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 contact with programmers to ensure SCOs meet technical implementation guidelines. SCO’S to contain title, pre-requisite, learning objectives, content, quizzes/testing.

TELEStraining Inc. 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.

TELEStraining Inc. 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.

TELEStraining Inc. 7. Introduction to SCORM’s Run Time Enviroment SCORM 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.

TELEStraining Inc. 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

TELEStraining Inc. 9. Conclusions The instructional design process can be successfully combined with development of SCORM compliant learning objects via utilization of XML-based Instructional Templates. Metatagging becomes part of the instructional process. Sequencing of learning objects for various instructional approaches is facilitated with SCORM 1.3, allowing for the introduction of pedagogical designs. The challenge for instructional designers is how to combine access to learning objects with peer-to-peer and instruction interactions.