On Reusability and Interoperability for Distance Learning

Distance learning has taken root, but it will take a big push to get to the next level. A key is to make courseware reusable in creating other courseware and interoperable across a wide variety of platforms on which the courseware is to be presented. In fact, reusability and interoperability are the cornerstones of the emerging distance learning standard called the Sharable Content Object Reference Model (SCORM). In this article, we examine reusability and interoperability for distance learning as embodied in the SCORM specifications. We also outline some important research projects related to SCORM.