Thanks everyone for viewing my blog posts. I am really buoyant by your comments and ratings. Writing a new post from 7 months! This time about a new trending topic on e-learning, TinCan API.
All of you might know about SCORM standards. SCORM also known as Sharable Content Object Reference Model is a standard used for e-learning materials(lessons). There are mainly two standards used in e-learning SCORM and AICC. SCORM is the most popular standard used in most of the e-learning systems.
SCORM uses “SCORM Engine” to run SCORM converted files in the LMS(Moodle, Blackboard etc.). To run SCORM files it is first converted to xml format, which can be easily identified by any LMS. In LMS, SCORM packages can be executed and the SCORM engine is implemented by default therefore, there is no need to install it.
If someone needs to convert files into SCORM, you can simply use a tool to convert(I will go through the tools which can be used for SCORM in another post). Then simply upload the converted SCORM package to SCORM uploader. Then you can run SCORM lessons.
But the issue with SCORM is, it only records very little information about the activities. For an example assume that it consists of a quiz and a simulation game. It will store information related to the quiz attempt(Data of each page which will be, time taken, answer provided etc.) but, it cannot track data of the simulations. We all know the future of e-learning systems will be simulation based training environments. For the timebeing various organizations have created simulation based environment but, it is not that flexible to be used to filch the attention of the user. One example for such environment is SLOODLE(I will discuss and explain how to use this tool in a future post). Another limitation of SCORM is the inability to track offline learning. For this external plugins must be used in LMS’s. For moodle already there is a plugin available for offline learning. Team based learning is also another limitation in SCORM.
Due to these limitations, the Rustici Software who introduced SCORM standards, have come up with a new API called “TinCan”. TinCan is flexible than SCORM. It does not require an LMS to communicate with. If the user activities needs to be recorded, it will send a message to the LRS(Learning Record Store). All the recorded activities are stored as logs in LRS. The records of the LRS can be retrieved by any LMS or a recording tool. TinCan also have the added features such as improved security, track multiple scores, detailed test results, track blended, adaptive and interactive learning and many more[Rustici Software, LLC, 2014]. The most important feature is that it does not need an internet browser!
But SCORM is not FOSS(Free and Open Source). The users have to pay for LRS, minimum of $15,000. This specification is meant for very large organizations of users more than 50,000[Rustici Software, LLC, 2014]. One of the major purposes of implementing this specification is the limitation performance of SCORM for large number of concurrent users.
My advise for you is, if your organization is having users exceeding 50,000 then go ahead and purchase the LRS and start using TinCan. For other users, don’t hesitate, the world will not stop using SCORM! For more information about TinCan API check their website, http://tincanapi.com/.
If you have issues on TinCan API or SCORM please contact me and don’t forget to share/comment and rate.
References
- Rustici Software, LLC. 2014. Available: http://tincanapi.com/ [Accessed 2/16/2014].
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