Maintaining Bookmarks in an LMS

[Kristen2810]

Hey everyone,

I have been searching for information on how I can maintain bookmarks in our LMS system (HealthStream). I haven't found much helpful information yet and was wondering if there is something that I need to do when publishing or something I need to add to the HTML code before loading into the LMS?

Does anyone know of a solution?

Thanks,

Kristen

[Captiv8r]

Hi Kristen

I believe this is something totally handled at the LMS end. Not much you can do from within Captivate to govern bookmarking. There is one setting if you click Quiz > Quiz Preferences... > Reporting > LMS Customization Settings button. But I think that only allows you to prevent bookmarking from occurring. The option is labeled "Never send Resume Data".

Hopefully another author will advise whether I'm off my nut on this one or if I'm spot on.

Cheers... Rick

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[Kristen2810]

OK, thanks Rick. If this is correct, then there's not much I can do in Captivate, so I'll contact our LMS. The problem is that they don't support Captivate, so I might have to figure that out on my own too.

- Kristen

[Captiv8r]

Hi again

Yeah, I hate that. When a name is put forth, often folks will latch right onto it and say something like "NOPE! The issues aren't with OUR PRODUCT, it has to be PRODUCT X" and you get into the finger pointing match.

It's my understanding that bookmarking is a generic process with any LMS. Sure, whatever is being served up (Captivate in this case) has to have some form of communication that allows the bookmarking to occur. The key is figuring out what (if anything) you have to touch in the LMS side to accomplish it.

I think the fact Captivate offers a means to "suspend" the bookmarking or "resume" data is an indication that by default, it is assuming the data is sent to the LMS. You just have to figure out how to make the LMS aware of the data and to use it.

Wish I had more to offer here. Unfortunately, I've pretty much reached my limit of LMS knowledge in this area. What little I have, anyway. LOL

Cheers... Rick

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[Erik Lord]

Bookmarking *should* be pretty straight-forward in SCORM 1.2 via the lesson_location value. If the LMS is SCORM-compliant, it should have that 'variable' available. The lesson, if so set to do 'bookmarking', should send some value to that lesson_location model, which the LMS should then store. The next that lesson is launched and requests the lesson_location value, it should receive it from the LMS then do with it what it will (ideally, automatically navigate to the page that value indicates).

However, CP also requires values from the LMS suspend_data variable to be returned as well in order for bookmarking to work (as I understand it) which in a perfect world shouldn't be that much of an issue...but LMS <> perfect world in most situations.

So, yes, CP should be able to do bookmarking. It does it many LMS products. If your LMS provider is just going to refuse to respond by saying "we don't support Captivate" then 1) they're lame and 2) I'd look for a new LMS provider....as without their support, you're likely just not going to get it to work.

good luck!
Erik

[kind_days15B9]

I am encountering similar problems right now with Inquisiq R3 LMS.

The problem (I think) is that Captivate is not really 100% SCORM compliant. Yes, it appears to output SCORM 1.2... but I am encountering a number of issues.

On the other hand, lessons created entirely in Lectora appear to function perfectly.

Is it a configuration issue in Captivate?? I am working with the LMS support folks... I will let you know what they say about this.

[Erik Lord]

Ah, another issue with bookmarking may be...

...technically, per SCORM, a lesson should set the cmi.exit value to 'suspend' if the LMS is to send back the resume_data on next launch. If the cmi.exit value is NOT set, then some LMS product - such as Inquisiq R3 - will NOT send back the resume_data...which CP needs in order to resume properly.

CP does not set that cmi.exit value at all.

In Inquisiq, however, since this is a common issue with tools not working properly, there is an option to set 'always send resume data' in the Lesson properties... When that is set, the resume_data is sent back to the lesson, which should allow it to resume as it needs.

I bet that's the cause of at least shawn's, if not both, issues.

Erik

[kind_days15B9]

Hello Erik,

I see you are familiar with Inquisiq. 🙂

I wish that was the answer because that was one of the first options I attempted. The unfortunate effect of that setting is that the students can only view the entire lesson once.

I'll report back when I have a solution for this and a few other issues.

[kind_days15B9]

Update:

The Inquisiq folks have a white paper on making Captivate behave in a SCORM environment. This may also be useful anyone using any LMS.

http://www.icslearninggroup.com/whitepapers/macromedia-captivate-and-scorm.htm

Ultimately, I would rather not fight with Captivate. In the future, I will just use Captivate for software simulations and the rest of my courses will be completed in Lectora.

[tpoole32]

I just want to say Thank You for posting the link on the whitepaper. Even though we do not use that LMS, it was very very informative!!