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1.3 What questions do I need to ask an LMS vendor?
Most LMS's are designed with a specific set of behaviors as imagined by the LMS architects. Here are a few examples that need to be considered when selecting an LMS.
  1. Can students come back to content that they have "completed"? :
    1. Often, this is desirable because management wants to make the course available as reference material.
    1. Will reports mislead if the LMS changes the student's status because they have revisited the course?
  1. How do you declare content "completion"?
    1. Is it based on the student reading all the content?
    1. Is it based on passing a specific test?
  1. Does the LMS close down the browser when the student exits the course?
    1. The SCORM specification implies that the LMS is responsible for opening and closing browser windows (not the course).
    1. Many LMSs are designed so that it is the course's responsibility.
  1. Does the LMS allow students to retake tests?
    1. If so which score(s) is saved, or used?
    1. Can the LMS save multiple scores like first score, and best score?
    1. Can the LMS report more than one score?
  1. Does the LMS overwrite previous results?
    1. If it allows students to re-take tests, will management be able to see how many times the student took the test?
  1. Can the LMS save more then one score per course?
    1. Will the LMS support multiple chapter tests in a course?
    1. Will the LMS support chapter test scores?
  1. Is the score based on one test or an aggregate of multiple tests?
    1. If it is an aggregate, how does the LMS create this aggregate number?
    1. Is a score the % correct?
    1. Is the score a number correct?
  1. How does the LMS define "lesson_location"? (current page, progress through course, last bookmarked page).
  1. Will the LMS/course reopen on the last page visited by the student when they start a new session?
  1. Does the LMS use the "score" variable for tests or for progress (% of course visited)?
  1. Does the LMS save answers to specific test questions?
    This information can be used for remediation
    If so, the LMS can be used to conduct surveys.
  1. Are results stored by your LMS exportable to your corporate database?
  1. What types of reports come standard with your LMS?
  1. How can management create additional reports from existing data?
    Does management need to go back to the LMS vendor to have these reports created?
    Can management create the reports on their own?
It's True! It's True! Just because a vendor has implemented SCORM does not mean all course information is being saved.