Supporting interoperability in an existing e-learning platform using SCORM

The proliferation of interoperability e-learning specifications raises the need of extending existing e-learning platforms so that they can be used efficiently in a distributed environment where material producers, service providers and users (either learners or teachers) exchange information using standard models. This extension is essential to preserve digital learning material and retain the user groups and learning communities already set up. We present a generic architecture and its prototype implementation for addressing this need. This architecture is based on the two assumptions that: (1) the preexistent e-learning platform is implemented on top of a relational database management system, and (2) the interoperability model to be supported is SCORM. The prototype implementation uses a Web-based e-learning platform based on a solid pedagogical framework.