Flow Navigation refers to the sequencing and organization of content within a SCORM-compliant e-learning course. SCORM provides guidelines and specifications for how e-learning content should be structured and navigated, and flow navigation is an integral part of this.
Flow navigation involves determining how learners progress through the course modules, sections, and individual learning objects (often referred to as SCOs, or Shareable Content Objects). It defines the rules and conditions for controlling the order and availability of content items based on a learner's interactions and progress.
Here are some key components and concepts related to flow navigation in SCORM:
Sequencing Rules: SCORM defines a set of sequencing rules that dictate the order in which SCOs are presented to learners. These rules can be simple (linear navigation) or complex (adaptive navigation) and depend on factors like learner choices, prerequisites, and objectives.
Navigation Controls: SCORM allows you to include navigation controls like "Next" and "Previous" buttons within your course content to enable learners to move forward or backward in the course.
Completion Status: Flow navigation includes tracking the completion status of each SCO or module. This helps the LMS (Learning Management System) know when a learner has completed a particular section or activity.
Objective Mastery: SCORM allows you to define specific learning objectives for each SCO. Navigation can be tied to learners' mastery of these objectives. For example, learners may need to pass a quiz before accessing the next module.
Prerequisites: You can set prerequisites that require learners to complete certain SCOs or meet specific criteria before they can access subsequent content. Prerequisites ensure that learners have the necessary background knowledge before moving forward.
Choice Navigation: Some SCORM courses offer learners choices, allowing them to decide which path or content they want to explore next. Flow navigation should account for these choices and adapt accordingly.
Branching and Conditional Sequencing: Depending on a learner's performance or choices, the course may branch to different content paths. Flow navigation can be designed to accommodate branching scenarios.
Bookmarking and Resume Functionality: SCORM courses often include bookmarking features, which allow learners to save their progress and resume from where they left off when they return to the course.
Review and Revision: Flow navigation should allow learners to review previously completed content if needed. It should also consider revision scenarios for remediation or reinforcement of learning.
LMS Integration: Finally, flow navigation should align with the capabilities of the LMS where the SCORM course will be deployed. SCORM packages should work seamlessly with the LMS's tracking and reporting features.
To summarize, flow navigation in SCORM courses is about defining the logical order, interactivity, and conditions for how learners move through the course content. It ensures that the learning experience is structured, coherent, and aligned with the learning objectives while providing flexibility for different learning paths and adaptive scenarios.
Build Effective Flow Navigation in Your SCORM Course
Here are steps to build effective flow navigation in your SCORM course:
Understand Your Audience
Before designing navigation, understand your target audience's needs, preferences, and prior knowledge. Tailor the navigation to their skill level and familiarity with e-learning platforms.
Clear Learning Objectives
Start by defining clear and measurable learning objectives for your course. This will help you structure the content and navigation around specific goals.
Organize Content
Divide your course content into logical modules or sections. Each module should cover a specific topic or sub-topic. This organization will make it easier for learners to follow the course's flow.
Use a Consistent Structure
Maintain a consistent structure for each module or section. This might include an introduction, learning objectives, content presentation, activities or assessments, and a summary or conclusion.
Breadcrumb Navigation
Implement breadcrumb navigation at the top of each page to show learners where they are within the course. This allows them to backtrack easily or jump to specific sections.
Menu or Table of Contents
Include a menu or table of contents that provides an overview of the course structure. This allows learners to navigate directly to a specific module or section if needed.
Next and Previous Buttons
Include clearly labeled "Next" and "Previous" buttons to allow learners to move through the course sequentially. These buttons should be prominently displayed on each page.
Home Button
Provide a "Home" button that allows learners to return to the course's main page or the beginning of a module at any point.
Progress Tracking
Display progress indicators, such as progress bars or completion percentages, to motivate learners and help them understand how much content they've covered.
Responsive Design
Ensure your course and navigation are responsive to different screen sizes and devices, so learners can access the course on desktops, tablets, or smartphones.
Testing and Usability
Test the navigation with a sample group of learners to identify any usability issues. Make adjustments based on their feedback to improve the flow.
Keyboard Navigation
Ensure that your course can be navigated using keyboard shortcuts for accessibility purposes, complying with WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines).
SCORM Standards Compliance
Make sure your navigation adheres to SCORM standards and specifications, such as sequencing and navigation rules, to ensure compatibility with Learning Management Systems (LMSs).
User Support and Help
Provide easy access to help and support resources within the course, such as FAQs, glossaries, or contact information for technical assistance.
Feedback and Assessment
Use quizzes, assignments, or assessments at key points in the course to gauge learner understanding and provide feedback. Ensure that learners can easily navigate to these assessments.
Course Review
Regularly review and update the course navigation based on user feedback and performance data to continuously improve the learning experience.
Remember that effective flow navigation enhances the learner's experience and helps them achieve the course objectives. It's essential to strike a balance between providing guidance and allowing learners the flexibility to explore and learn at their own pace.
About LMS Portals
At LMS Portals, we provide our clients and partners with a SaaS-based, multi-tenant learning management system that allows you to launch a dedicated training environment (a portal) for each of your unique audiences.
The system includes built-in, SCORM-compliant rapid course development software that provides a drag and drop engine to enable most anyone to build engaging courses quickly and easily.
We also offer a complete library of ready-made courses, covering most every aspect of corporate training and employee development.
If you choose to, you can create Learning Paths to deliver courses in a logical progression and add structure to your training program. The system also supports Virtual Instructor-Led Training (VILT) and provides tools for social learning.
Together, these features make the LMS Portals platform the ideal solution for delivering effective flow navigation in your SCORM courses.
Contact us today to get started or visit our Partner Program pages
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