Macromedia is committed to supporting key standards efforts such as those provided by ADL, AICC, IEEE, and IMS that allow content interoperability, meta-data tagging, and data tracking. Macromedia content can be created for deployment on most Learning Management Systems, including the IBM LearningSpace, Saba, Plateau, and other open, standards-based management systems.
The benefits of having a standards-based integrated teaching and learning system are vast, and include:
- Immediate feedback so students and instructors can take action as needed
- A comprehensive library of training materials in one repository
- The resources to mix and match off-the-shelf content with custom content
- Access to reports that allow for better measurements of usage and results
- Reduction of the costs associated with the implementation of multiple systems
- Support for a wide selection of authoring tools that output trackable data
For a good overview of e-learning standards, check out the MASIE Center E-Learning Consortium Industry Report on this topic: Making Sense of Learning Specifications & Standards: A Decision Maker's Guide to their Adoption (PDF, 772K). You should also read the Getting Started with eLearning Standards ( PDF, 75K) white paper from Macromedia.
Macromedia Products Support for Standards
Macromedia eLearning extensions are your source for free, easy-to-install extensions that allow you to easily add helpful and powerful new features to Macromedia products.
Standards and Specifications
Advanced Distributed Learning
The Advanced Distributed Learning (ADL) Initiative is a strategy sponsored by the government, industry, and academic leaders to facilitate instructional content development and delivery using current and emerging technologies. Specifically, its Sharable Content Object Reference Model (SCORM) project focuses on next-generation open architecture for online learning, including standards for run-time communication, course structure, and content meta-data. Visit ADL for more information.
Aviation Industry Computer-Based Training Committee
The Aviation Industry Computer-Based Training Committee (AICC) is an international association of technology-based training professionals that creates guidelines for the development, delivery, and evaluation of training technologies. The AICC pioneered the most widely accepted interoperability standards for computer-based and web-based training. Its relevant publications for standards are the AICC Guidelines and Recommendations (AGRs). See AICC AGR 6 and AICC AGR 10 for information on content interoperability and web-based communication. Visit AICC for more information.
IEEE Learning Technology Standards Committee
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Computer Society Standards Activity Board has chartered the Learning Technology Standards Committee (LTSC) to develop technical standards, recommended practices, and guides for computer implementations of education and training components and systems—specifically, the software components, tools, technologies, and design methods that facilitate their development, deployment, maintenance, and interoperation. Many of the standards developed by LTSC will be advanced as international standards by the International Organization for Standardization/International Electrotechnical Commission Joint Technical Committee Subcommittee on Information Technology for Learning, Education, and Training (ISO/IEC JTC1/SC36). Visit IEEE LTSC for more information.
IMS Global Learning Consortium
The IMS Global Learning Consortium, Inc. (IMS) is a nonprofit corporation that began with a focus on higher education. Today, they've expanded their specifications and projects to address a wide range of learning contexts, including school, university, corporate, and government training. Available specifications include: Learning Resource Meta-data, Enterprise, Content Packaging, and Question & Test Interoperability. International IMS Centres exist in four countries to support local constituents. Visit IMS for more information.
