This article outlines some recommendations and guidance for developing content for your LMS. It includes details on Videos, SCORM content, and PowerPoint.

Introduction

This article provides essential recommendations and guidance for creating effective content for your Learning Management System (LMS).

It covers various content formats, including videos, SCORM packages, and PowerPoint presentations, highlighting best practices to enhance user engagement and learning outcomes. By following these guidelines, content developers can ensure that their materials are not only accessible but also optimized for performance, making the learning experience seamless for users. Whether you're looking to incorporate multimedia elements or streamline assessments, this article serves as a comprehensive resource for developing high-quality LMS content.

Videos

Videos are a great way to deliver rich content to your users but are often large in size. Bear in mind that your users will need to stream these onto their device, and if you have Remote Training Servers (RTSs) these will also need to synchronize out over the available bandwidth.

Videos are best served as:

16:9 aspect ratio
Standard Definition, 480p (720×480) is recommended so that users with poor connections can stream videos and to save space on synchronization to RTSs
MP4 is the best video format but others can be supported.
If you have a long video you may want to consider breaking this up into a series of smaller videos. This can be easier for the viewer as they can break up their learning sessions and come back to the next section later. It is also more flexible should any changes need to be made as you only need to re-upload the section of the video that changed. This saves on synchronization bandwidth to RTSs.
If you would like to guarantee the user has watched the video it is best to add this to a SCORM package (see further details below)

Do NOT use long file names or special characters within the media assets when building the file as these can lead to URL errors when placed with the web-based LMS.

SCORM 1.2

SCORM is an is a collection of standards and specifications for web-based eLearning that allows your content to deliver grades and status information to the LMS. Our system supports SCORM 1.2 which is the most widely used standard and supported by nearly all content vendors and authoring applications.

Some recommendations for the use of SCORM 1.2 content are:

Consider the size and length of content within the SCORM package. It may be beneficial for your trainees to break these up into smaller packages they can progress through as time allows. Additionally, it means if you have any changes to make you only need to re-upload the section of the SCORM package that changed. This saves on synchronization bandwidth to RTSs.
If you have videos with the SCORM consider the size and length (see Video guidance above)
We recommend the use of graded assessment scores in the SCORM package as these give you more detailed information on the user's actual performance. Lesson statuses are simple but only tell you if they completed the requirements in the SCORM package.

You may also want to consider using a native LMS assessment to track a trainees knowledge as these have deeper, question-level reporting, that is not available with SCORM packages.

Avoid the use of complex logic and validations within the package e.g. users have to click on a particular set of boxes. Sometimes these are not obvious to trainees and can lead to support requests.
Keep the requirements simple so that trainees know exactly what they need to do to pass the SCORM package. Avoid making the course fail or not provide a score/status from an assessment due to missing some other part of the package e.g. not clicking a box. This can lead to confusion and support requests from your users.
Your SCORM packages can be embedded in an LMS course along with other kinds of content and assessment. The LMS can then have its own course criteria for how the student should pass the course. Therefore we recommend considering the context your SCORM package will be presented in. You may want to avoid having the SCORM content provide certificates or messages to the user that they have “passed” the course since there could be other requirements within the LMS.
Consider removing any unnecessary parts of the SCORM package such as other language formats which will be not be used by your users.

Do NOT use long file names or special characters within the media assets when building the file as these can lead to URL errors when placed with the web-based LMS.

PowerPoint

PowerPoint is not web-based format that is playable within the LMS environment however they can be converted to HTML5 by MarineLS prior to loading. Additionally they can be added as standard PowerPoint files for your users to download and play on their devices locally.

If you are providing a PowerPoint to be converted please bear in mind the following recommendations:

Consider the size and length of content within the PowerPoint. It may be beneficial for your trainees to break these up into smaller packages they can progress through as time allows. Additionally, it means if you have any changes to make you only need to re-upload the section of the PowerPoint that changed. This saves on synchronization bandwidth to RTSs.
If you have videos within the PowerPoint consider the size and length (see Video guidance above)
Only include 1 piece of media (e.g. video or audio) per slide
Avoid the use of complex animations as these do not always convert well into HTML5
Use standard web fonts where possible or these may not convert into HTML5 properly

Do NOT use long file names or special characters within the media assets when building the file as these can lead to URL errors when placed with the web-based LMS.

Content Format Guidance

Introduction

Contents

Videos

SCORM 1.2

PowerPoint

Other content formats

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