So what is a SCORM Wrapper

If you are curious about what exactly a SCORM wrapper is, then you probably need one. Additionally, you most likely could use a helping hand getting your content loaded into a SCORM-compliant Learning Management System. If this sounds like you, then you have come to the right place! This article will give you a good overview. We also invite you to go to the Ask the eLearning Expert page and describe what you are looking to accomplish. Our SCORM experts offer extremely competitive consulting rates and can often have your content SCORM wrapped super fast! What’s more, we already have a fully-functional SCORM-wrapper solution (either HTML or Flash-based) ready to put into place for you. You can also call Stephen “Magic” Johnson at MediaManagers – (866) 501-6897.

SCORM Wrapper Definition

A SCORM Wrapper is a set of files that make it possible for a SCORM-compliant Learning Management System (LMS) and any form of digital content (Word documents, PowerPoint, Flash, etc.) to commnicate back and forth. One can apply a SCORM wrapper to nearly any form of digital content and then upload that content to an LMS for immdiate learner access. Many also refer to this as a SCORM Authoring Tool.

A “SCORM Wrapper” is a essentially a generic term for any set of (correctly programmed and formatted) files that are designed so that the user (usually a trainer/content developer) can load content files (Word, PowerPoint, Flash, PDF, etc.) into a Learning Management System in such a way that it is SCORM compliant and easily deployed to any SCORM compliant LMS.  Generally, this “wrapper” can be thought of as a digital “table of conents” that provides a way in which a learner can navigate through various pages of a “course”, all the while recordging learner page clicks and other ”performance data” back into the LMS database so that the teachers or training professionals can run reports and analyze learner performance.

SCORM Wrapper Example

For example; a training developer can take PowerPoint files, Word documents, PDF files, HTML pages, and all other forms of digital content and combine all of this information into a single folder. A SCORM Wrapper can then be added so that the trainer can just upload digital file package into the LMS and provide learners with instant access to the resources contained therein. What’s more, the LMS can track which learners viewed which pages at what time, etc. Moreover, the SCORM Wrapper is what presents to the learner a cohesive table of contents so that learners can navivate to whatever document, presentation, web page, PDF, or other files that have been grouped together.

The pictures below shows a SCORM Wrapper that has the Table of Contents in the “open” position. The learner uses this course index to naviate the course and can show/hide it as desired. The wrapper also includes next/back buttons, pause/play, and more. This wrapper is also fully customizable to match your organization’s look and feel. Click the image to see a portfolio of various designs built using this SCORM Wrapper.

SCORM Wrapper

At the heart of the SCORM Wrapper is a manifest file. Just as a airline manifest includes a list of all passengers and personnel listed on a plane, the SCORM manifiest file lists all of the files that make up a digital course. Also, just as an airplane manifest may include a listing of assigned seating, so too can the SCORM manifest file record the order in which the digital content is to be presented to the learner. Officially, this file is named imsmanifest.xml.  In addition to the SCORM manifest file, the SCORM Wrapper usually also includes a user interface (often referred to as a player, shell, or player skin) which includes navigation features like next and back buttons, pause/play controls, and other items that the learner uses to navigate through a course.

SCORM Wrapper Example

To see a SCORM wrapper in action, visit www.mediamanagers.net/porfolio and click on any of the course player images. The courses that player are packaged in a Flash-based SCORM wrapper. Note that the wrapper includes the course index (table of contents), pause/play/next/back buttons, etc. All of the user navigation elements are included in the wrapper. If you want to package up your courses in a similarly nice looking course player (SCORM wrapper), then all you have to do is give a call! (866) 501-6897

Top 10 Reasons Why You Should Develop Your eLearning in Flash

Developing eLearning in Flash is not as hard nor as expensive as you may think. What’s more, whatever your mind can conceive, you can literally achieve in Flash! (Within reason)

1. Flash professionals are plentiful: Most professional graphic designers are at least somewhat familiar with Flash, and many are expert users. Plentiful talent means relatively reasonable hourly or salary rates that you and your department can afford. Whether you outsource or retain internal talent, you can add Flash experts to your talent pool easily.
2. Do-it-yourself tools are limited: Why limit yourself to the capabilities of do-it-yourself tools such as Captivate, Articulate, and Camtasia (to name a few). Often these tools in the hands of a novice can actually result in very badly designed eLearning that is also more bandwidth intensive (fatter files) than more efficiently designed Flash pieces.
3. Rapid Intake makes Flash “SCORM Friendly“: wwwRapidIntake.com makes a product called ProForm. They also offer a web-based version called Unison. This tool makes it incredibly easy to take any Flash file and present it in a “SCORM Wrapper”. No special programming skills required!
4. Custom interactivities are easily programmed: Whether you want to create custom drag-and-drop interactivities, hotspots, software simulations, or other interactive elements, designing these in Flash is actually quite easy for an intermediate-level Flash programmer. The leap from Java Script to Flash ActionScript programming is not a large one, so many of your current web programmers may be well positioned to pick up ActionScript skills.
5. Animations and Illustrations that add a “wow” factor: Creating stunning and creative visuals using Flash adds an extra touch of elegance and interest to what may otherwise be boring page-turning eLearning courses.
6. Synchronize audio lecture with visuals: The Flash timeline makes it easy to drop in audio lecture (e.g. MP3 recorded using the free Audacity tool) and reveal/remove visuals like bullet points, pictures, graphics, and so on, in timing with the audio lecture. See www.mediamanagers.net/portfolio for lots of great examples of this.
7. Integration of Video: Flash has a great video encoder that comes standard, which makes it very easy to import your video content into Flash and convert it into lightweight online video with built-in play/pause/mute and other controls. Using Rapid Intake’s ProForm you can then quickly drop these videos into your LMS via either SCORM or AICC import.
8. Increase your learner satisfaction and completion rates: The number one reason why learners do not complete courses is that they loose interest in the content. When you develop in Flash, you tend to build your eLearning at the instructional design/storyboard level with an eye toward user engagement. You simply can do more in Flash to make eLearning interesting than you can in any other tool available today.
9. Custom Reporting and LMS Data Tracking: With Flash, you can program custom code that reports back data to your LMS in order to add a more sophisticated level of user performance tracking.
10. It just makes your job as an eLearning developer more fun! Let’s face it – sometimes working in eLearning can be a thankless job. If you have not yet started developing in Flash, pick a project where you can dip your toe into the Flash water. You may rediscover a love for the creative eLearning development process and reenergize your work.