CP8 - Linking to simulations from an online course

[barbaram35958855]

Hi there, I hope you can help! I want to link my main course to simulations I created as separate Software Simulation projects. Should I link to the published simulations swf or html file? Also to package this to upload to an LMS do I need to include the swf/html file in the zipfile of the main course?

[RodWard · Accepted solution]

If you are serving this from an LMS then you probably need to think of these sims as being separate modules and keep them in separate CPTX files that are published as separate zipped SCORMs and bundled together using the Adobe Multi SCORM Packaging tool.

Then when served from the LMS each of these projects will have its own link in the LMS player.  You should NOT be linking one SCO to another via any other means.  Let the LMS handle it.

[barbaram35958855]

Thanks so much for your response Rob, it's much appreciated. I'm self taught and am dealing with a team in a different timezone who own the LMS and then outsource the upload of files. So I want to get it right before I send it all off.

I have created one main course where I imported from Powerpoint and then I created three simulations as separate Simulation CPTX projects. I have published them all locally as zipped SCORMs....so it looks right so far from your response.

The only thing I'm not clear on then is how I link to them from my main course. What I've done is use a click box on the slide I want to link from and 'Link to URL or file' but I don't know which file type to link to or how to utilise the link in the LMS player which you mentioned in your response.

Thanks again.

Barbara

[RodWard]

That's the thing. With SCORM modules you DO NOT link between them. 

Each SCO is supposed to be a separate standalone chunk of learning that links to NOTHING outside itself.

The LMS has the job of providing the navigation links that allow the learners to launch each SCO, usually via a Table of Contents in the SCORM Player.

[barbaram35958855]

It looks like I need to change my approach a bit. Thanks for getting back to me, it is much appreciated.

[BDuckWorks]

Barbara,

After your comment:

barbaram35958855 wrote:

"I'm self taught and am dealing with a team in a different timezone who own the LMS and then outsource the upload of files. "

I suggest you ask if there is a development or testing site where you can load your courses and try out your uploads before handing them off to the remote process owners. When working with such a diverse team, you'll find that testing before handoff will save hours, if not days, of wasted time.

If you have an example Cp file that is identifed as known-good, i.e. the scorm settings, quizzing and other project preferences are working with this LMS, that will give you an running start. In the absence of this, you'll want to have a testing environment where you can upload and test on a short cycle while you get the process down.

[barbaram35958855]

Yes, it has been a drawn out process and always difficult when you can't test it yourself.

Thanks for the advice, that could help a lot.