Understanding Learning Components

Learning components are the building blocks of classes. Each class must include at least one learning component. Enterprise Learning Management supports six basic types of learning components: web-based, session, webcast, test, survey, and assignment.

When adding a learning component to a class, the administrator first selects the component type. The selected type determines what information must be defined for the learning component and how the system will track learner progress for that component.

You can create your own learning component types, associating each with one of the six basic component types that are delivered with Enterprise Learning Management.

For example, say your organization typically uses two different types of surveys at the end of classes: one to evaluate instructors, and another to evaluate course materials. In this case, you could create a learning component type called Instructor Evaluation and a second learning component type called Materials Evaluation and associate each with the basic learning component type of survey. When adding a learning component to the class, administrators will then be able to choose the Instructor Evaluation component or the Materials Evaluation component. (They will also see the delivered survey learning component type unless you delete it.) This feature enables you to define a wide range of learning opportunities customized to correspond to the business practices already in place within your organization.

The following table describes the six basic learning component types and indicates whether each component type supports content that complies with industry standards. Web-based, test, and survey basic learning component types can be Sharable Content Object Reference Model (SCORM) 1.1 and 1.2 and Aircraft Industry Computer Based Training Committee (AICC) compliant. That is, these basic component types have been designed to comply with vendors who develop content that has been designed and packaged to meet specifications so that progress data can be passed between Enterprise Learning Management and the vendor: