It seems like we’ve been talking about “SCORM 2.0” for years now…wait, come to think of it, it has been years. Literally years. But, finally, alas, we have some progress. The industry is moving forward. Hark, do I hear angels singing?
While it’s not officially part of “SCORM”, LETSI has produced an exceptionally useful enhancement…and guess what, it’s ready and available to be implemented now!
The current SCORM communication framework (based on JavaScript) has served us well. It is simple, easy-to-understand, and straight-forward to implement. But, it’s getting a little long in the tooth. Technology has evolved and there are better ways to do things.
Enter LETSI’s Run-Time Web-Services (RTWS) project. Over the past year, the RTWS group has worked to create a complete and implementable web services communication protocol that is compatible with SCORM. This project addresses some of the most notable and frustrating limitations of the current SCORM model, including:
- Enabling “out of browser” experiences, such as training delivered in simulations, games, virtual worlds
- Facilitating offline or occasionally connected use
- Removing the cross domain security restriction
- Enabling deliver on alternative devices, such as mobile phones
- Allowing for more secure system communication
(there are a few other goodies thrown in as well…such has historical attempt tracking)
LETSI has published an RTWS Developer’s Guide and there are a number of prototype implementations either already available or in development (from vendors such as Meridian, Booz Allen, OutStart, Boeing…and of course Rustici Software). One of the core tenants of LETSI is that implementation should drive specifications….standards need to be vetted through actual use. To that end, LETSI is actively looking for additional prototype developers and implementers. Let us know if you are interested.
As for Rustici Software, we currently have a version of RTWS implemented in a development version of the SCORM Engine. We expect to publish a production quality version with our next SCORM Engine release later this year. At that point, RTWS will be available in SCORM Cloud and it will start to be available in the LMSs of our 100+ SCORM Engine clients as they proceed through their upgrade cycles.
