Hi Folks,

It's been a while since I've posted anything for eLMS on the ground. I'd like to return today by talking briefly about the KMi SCORM player and how it works.

SCORM is an incredibly useful tool. But exactly how it works can be somewhat of a mystery, especially if you don't have much networking experience.

The first thing to know, is that SCORM configurations can have many setups. SCORM content can be hosted on the actual eLMS server or it can reside on an external, content dedicated server. In fact, with the right setup, SCORM content listed on a single eLMS implementation, can be spread across several servers.

Regardless of where the content actually resides, if that content is going to interact with the SCORM capabilities of eLMS, then the content needs to be on a server that also has the SCORM player installed. If the content is on many server, each server needs to have the SCORM player installed.

The image here reflects SCORM content on a single, third party server. Steps 5-8 in the image are repeated as the user moves through the course. This is where the "essence" of SCOs comes in. A SCO is the most granular piece of information in a SCORM course. This is often a chapter or page within the course.

In some future posts, I'll examine SCOs in more detail and will discuss some of the driving principles and forces behind SCORM.

For the past several weeks, I have been discussing the debate over the value of eLearning versus traditional classroom training. It got me to thinking that maybe we need to go back and look at all those basic reasons why implementing eLearning can be a huge benefit to your organization. And, I won't even get into the added benefits of using a hosted eLearning management system which, in and of itself, will provide numerous opportunities for reporting, follow-up, gap analysis, learning path development, evaluations and surveys.

The list of benefits below are readily accepted by nearly everyone in the training industry:

• eLearning is usually less expensive to produce: of course, this may be dependent on the production value and tools you use and the particular content, but, once developed, an eLearning course can be leveraged for years without additional costs.
• The user determines the pace: As a self-paced learner from way back, this is one of its most attractive benefits for me. I can move through any online training solution at my own pace and access it just when I need it. Cool! 
• The learner can move through the learning faster -- As a user, I can bypass information I already know and focus on the information that I need to know. Beats sitting in a classroom and listening to repetitive material every time!
• eLearning provides a consistent message : Many of our clients are global organizations. They need their messaging to be the same whether it is delivered in Singapore, Paris or San Francisco. And, they need it to reflect just that global diversity as well. We just produced an online customer service course. One of the key learning objectives was to establish a consistent and repeatable process for customer support across their global platform. Providing the training as web based eLearning was exactly the right format for this project.
• Implementing eLearning can provide training from any location, any time, and just in time: One of the most obvious applications of this benefit was a sales training series we did for a health system hardware provider. They recognized that their sales people had little advance time to prepare for sales calls because they had such a broad range of services and products. So we created a custom series that reps could access just prior to their sales meetings to educate and update them on products and services. It was a resounding success. 
• eLearning can be updated easily and quickly: I recall developing a series of product training courses, which were updated monthly. The course were template based and allowed for easy updating of product spec changes. This meant that the field always had the most current product information. Imagine doing that through classroom training!
• eLearning leads to increased retention and a stronger grasp on the subject: This is because of the many elements that can be combined in custom eLearning to reinforce the message, such as video, audio, quizzes, interaction, animations, virtual role plays, scenario-based decision-making. Users can also revisit material as they need. Online soft skills training is usually a content area that seems challenging, however, we have produced many highly effective manager skills training courses such as Coaching in this format. Taking advantage of the tools available can produce outstanding learning! 
• eLearning can be managed and delivered for large or small groups of students: Using a SCORM Learning Management System such as KMi's, eLMS, allows the administrators to market courses, provide pre-assessments, evaluations, surveys, reporting, success tracking, blogs and all kinds of other features to enhance the learning experience.

So let us help you experience all the benefits of successful eLearning. Contact Margie Herron at mherron@kmionline.com and visit www.kmionline.com to learn more.