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FAQ: SCORM + your LMS
How do I download a SCORM package?
Super easily! Check out: How to: SCORM 1.2 Package and LMS Integration
FYI - Once the downloaded "Public site SCORM 1.2 Package" zip file is sent to your LMS owner and they import it into the LMS, your LMS will always point to your project's most recent published version.
In other words, you do not have to keep sending a file!
NOTE: Projects need to be located in the public enterprise folder in Portal and publically published in order to create live public links and SCORM packages that are accessible by end-users.
Is this a SCORM “stub” course package?
Yes, the SCORM package provided points back to your project on the SimGate platform (a “stub” version). We chose this approach because of customer input on fewer moving parts with their LMS deployment teams and to allow us to deliver interactivity, engagement, and robustness in our experiences by hosting the back-end functionality, logic, and processing. This affords faster updates and maintenance, more robust facilitator and admin reporting features, and the ability to run team- and individual-based experiences via the SimGate dashboard.
Is there an option for a complete SCORM course package?
No, there is no option to provide a full SCORM course package. Due to the extensive interactive functions of courses in SimGate, the platform's capabilities go far beyond the limitations of SCORM. For this reason, we created SCORM link packages that direct users from an LMS into a course in our SimGate platform.
By using a SCORM link, you get:
Increased level of engagement in the learner’s experience
Client automatic access to new features
Ease of duplication and modification for repurposing
What SCORM versions do you support?
We support SCORM 1.2 because it is the industry standard and the most widely adopted version in L&D. Its prevelant support across various Learning Management System (LMS) platforms makes it a reliable choice for creators and learners alike. Additionally, its compatibility and ease of implementation align with our commitment to delivering seamless and efficient solutions.
It's important to note that while there are newer SCORM versions and alternative standards available, we have made the strategic decision to focus solely on SCORM 1.2. As of now, we do not support AICC, SCORM 1.0 or 1.1, SCORM 2004 (all versions), xAPI, IMS, or any other standards. While some of these versions introduce additional features and capabilities, factors such as complexity and lack of widespread adoption led us to streamline our support for SCORM 1.2.
What is a “Test site SCORM 1.2 package” and how is it used?
In Studio, on the releases page, you have the option to download a test site SCORM package that points back to a specific release. This allows you to load that into the LMS and view the “test version” of the course that is tied to that specific release date reflecting how the course looked at that point in time.
Note: Test links don't have associated sessions, so no session or user data will be saved to the dashboard or will be reported back to the LMS.
You can generate test links and test SCORM packages for projects that are in your private project folders. However, to have projects that are accessible by end-users, projects need to be located in the public enterprise folder in Portal and publically published in order to create live public links and public SCORM packages.
What data comes out of the platform and is passed back to my LMS?
Completion Status - SCORM's data tracking capabilities are very basic - it can only store 3 types of data: state (not started, in progress, or complete), score, and bookmarks. We are limited to marking a course as complete and submitting the final score because bookmarks, unfortunately, don't show up in the LMS meaningfully.
The course completion status is triggered by a participant either reaching the final state of the project or the state they define in project settings.
Completion based on Pass/Fail - Define a "completion success percentage" in relation to the "possible max score" to indicate if a learner passes or fails (based on your chosen scoring metric variable from your scoring model).
Option to "Always mark the course completed".
Find these options on the Project Settings page:
What is the timing for data sent to the LMS?
(e.g. batch daily, continuous, at the end)
Launch and Completion. Data is sent to the LMS at key intervals aligned with user events such as launch which sets the sim/course status to ‘in progress’, or when the user ends the session and passes back status as either 'in progress' or 'complete'.
How does the SCORM package create the session and add participants?
Once the SCORM package has been integrated by your LMS Owner and access is provided to the user, when an LMS user opens the sim through the LMS, it sends the Regis Dashboard the user's student ID and name.
First, the system looks for any existing SCORM participants in our system with that student ID and automatically logs them in. If the participant does not exist, it automatically creates a user.
Next, the system looks for any active SCORM sessions for the project. It only looks at sessions that are active (not archived) with current start and end dates. If there are no active sessions, the system automatically creates a new one labeled "SCORM session for %projectName%".
If the participant is not part of the selected session, they are automatically added and start at the beginning of the simulation. Their progress is then tracked and bookmarked via the dashboard.
How can I create multiple, simultaneous SCORM sessions for a single published course?
To create multiple sessions for your course, including simultaneous sessions, the steps are as follows:
Establish the first session: When you open a SCORM package for the first time, it automatically creates a session for you on the dashboard.
Edit the first session to 'Ended': Login to the Dashboard and edit that session with a unique session name and an end date in the past (important!). This will place the session in 'Ended".
Establish the next session: Login again using the same generated SCORM URL to establish a NEW session. This will automatically create a new session for you on the dashboard.
Refresh the Dashboard so it picks up the new session and edit it with its unique session name and with the CORRECT start and end date.
'Un-End' the first session: In Ended, locate the first session, and edit the start and end dates with the CORRECT date and/or match the same date as the second session to have them run simultaneously.
Now we have two SCORM sessions scheduled to run (potentially simultaneously if needed).
This process can be repeated as many times as needed to get the right number of sessions, as long as you name each session with a unique name.
Users accessing their session: When users launch the SCORM URL via their LMS, they will be presented with a ‘Session Select’ screen where they can choose their session.
NOTE: We highly recommend unique session names so the users will know which session to select!
How can I see in-the-moment progress tracking for individual users or teams?
Through the SimGate Dashboard, if you provide participant or team names through your LMS, you'll be able to see in-the-moment sim progress tracking for each user.
What are the options for managing learner decision data from the Dashboard and can it be aggregated over time?
In the Regis Dashboard, you are able to manage “sessions” that will allow you to either continuously add users to the same SCORM session (to track all users, together, over time) OR you can create multiple sessions by specifying start and end dates, which then isolates the learner data to one specific session and those sessions can be archived once the session is complete.
Facilitators will be able to access each of the sessions (including archived sessions) through the dashboard and view user status and any reports created.
In SimGate Studio, reports can be created that show aggregated data as well as the built-in Decision Report that shows all participant decisions.
Can the user status and decision reports be exported from the Dashboard?
Yes, you can export user status and completion directly from the dashboard via a dropdown under "Session Actions".
Though not downloadable, the decision report is always accessible by either admins or facilitators, even if the session is archived or expired (it's never deleted).
Can you have a “sessionless” course through the LMS?
No. "Sessionless" and SCORM cannot be combined.
SCORM sessions are created and managed automatically and can only be accessed by using a SCORM package.
“Sessionless” allows users to log in to the project using a username/password but without needing a session in the dashboard to be created first. This is accessed using the Sessionless link generated in Studio. (see here for information on project settings)
When a user accesses a course via the LMS, does the project open in the same window, a new tab, or a new window?
Whether the project opens in a new tab, a new window, or opens in the same window is up to the LMS integration. SimGate does not have control over this setting.
When a user logs into a course via the LMS, will they need to sign in or register again for the SimGate platform?
No, users do not need to log in again after being directed to our system. SCORM integration does not require any other login process. SimGate receives the participant's student ID (usually their email) and their name and uses that to log them in automatically.
We need to make updates to a project - What happens to an individual learner if the project is edited while they are still in the process of working through a simulation?
The best practice is to schedule publishing a project update when there are no deployments. However, when this is not possible, to eliminate confusion for learners or risk to accurate data capture, please consult Regis to help you plan!
In Studio, updates can be made to a course at any time, along with testing it via a test link, without compromising live/deployed courses. (AS LONG AS you do NOT publicly publish it until ready!) Publishing creates a Public URL Link that is used to administer the course. SCORM package links always point to the "Live, Publicly Published" version of the course.
Here’s more info on releases in Studio: How to: Create a Release, Publish, and Finalize your Project
