Testing a Multi SCORM Learning Object in Moodle 2.0

At last night’s Melbourne Moodle Users Group meeting I demonstrated how to create a multi SCORM (Shareable Content Object Reference Model) learning object using JCA Solution's Simple SCORM Packager (SSP). Apart from the fact that we had some minor technical difficulties, it was a good night. In particular, there were several IT-savvy people in the room but no-one could get the data projector to recognise the laptop. We tried a few different keyboard combinations on the laptop but it didn't work. In the end we got everyone to crowd around me as I used my laptop to demonstrate how to use Simple SCORM Packager.

OK. So that was problem number 1. Problem number 2 was that I had a particular multi SCORM learning object which I wanted to show the group. This was a SCO (Shareable Content Object) which I had viewed that morning. Anyhow, for no apparent reason, we couldn't view this learning object half a day later. It just wouldn't open. The only thing that had changed was the Internet Service Provider (ISP). In the morning I was at home using my ISP, namely Internode, whereas in the evening I was using the meeting room's ISP.

Not being able to open a SCO which had opened easily previously is not unusual. I've had learning objects which would open on one occasion but not another. I have found from past experience that this problem can sometimes be solved by simply changing browsers. On this occasion, we started out using Mozilla Firefox. When that didn't work we changed over to Internet Explorer. As soon as we changed to Internet Explorer we were able to open the SCO which we hadn't been able to open earlier.

I have absolutely no idea why a SCO can be opened in Firefox in the morning but not in the evening. Would it be a problem with the browser? Or is it a problem with the Internet Service Provider (ISP)? Maybe it's something to do with Moodle 2.0. What do you think?

Why Two Browsers (Or Even Three) are Better Than One and Opera is the Best One of All

I have several different browsers installed on my laptop. In particular, I have Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, Opera and Safari. I use to have Chrome too but that’s another story. The fact is, I use each and every one of them. I use Firefox and Opera a lot, Safari a little and IE rarely.

Why do I use four browsers? The short answer is: it’s complicated! The main reason I use four browsers is because I’m in the habit of creating learning objects and I need to test my learning objects in the most popular browsers to see whether or not they behave the way I intended. Apart from that I use a particular browser based on what it is that I’m doing. (More on this in a future post.)

Up until about two months ago I wasn’t even using Opera but then there was something very specific which I needed to do that I couldn’t find a way of doing in either Firefox or IE. I was researching an overseas trip and needed to find a way of keeping tabs on a series of web pages relating to each of the cities I was intending to visit. For various reasons social bookmarking didn’t seem to be the way to go. I thought about opening all of these pages in IE then saving them as my Home Pages but IE will only let you save a maximum of eight Home page tabs.

So I decided to download Opera and give it a go. To my surprise the one thing that I really need to do right now can be done in Opera. Using Opera gives me the ability to save a “snapshot” of a series of tabs as a session for viewing at a later date.

It might not sound like much to you but when you’re trying to organise an overseas trip being able to do this can save a lot of time and effort. I have now created a session for each and every one of the cities I will be visiting later in the year. In my next post I'll show you how to save a session in Opera and how to manage your sessions.