Architecture of a SCORM-compliant assessment authoring tool

Compliance with standards is often put forward as a fundamental requirement for the widespread adoption of e-learning frameworks. Among the advantages that accrue from the conformance to standards interoperability and reuse have acquired special significance. This paper is concerned with the presentation of a SCORM-compliant assessmentauthoring tool. The tool is designed and implemented as a stand-alone system, which can be integrated into a SCORM-compliant learning management system as a plug-in. A layered approach to system design was adopted as a way of satisfying a hierarchy of requirements. Convenience and usability in creating assessment content are enhanced by hiding the complexity of the underlying system, making transparent the conformance to e-learning standards and minimising user interaction. The system is put into perspective through a comparison with the QTI approach to assessment creation.