SCORM Compliant PDF - Track read, review acknowledgement

Nov 21, 2013

Recently I encountered an issue where I wanted to have a PDF document that I needed to track via LMS (SCORM) that it was reviewed via the user acknowledging understanding, etc.

After a few failed attempts, I came up with the below solution that works quite well.

1. Create a True/False question and modify it to read differently.  True = Acknowledgement………….and false no acknowlegdement.  Then published as SCORM, now the LMS will report Acknowledgements as a PASS and the latter as a FAIL.

2.  Insert Web Object to embed PDF located on "hidden" webpage onto the "modified" True/False question.

I can see this setup being a HUGE benefit for many departments (especially HR) where there are a lot of PDFs that require reviewing and then acknowledging.  Much better this way because it is all packaged neatly and will generate easily into LMS reporting.

22 Replies
TIMOTHY KUHN

Ashley, Thanks!  i rec'd an email from Normal 0 false false false oNotPromoteQF /> EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4

/* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";}Bruce Amrein
Technical eTraining Development

and as a result subscribe to thread.

Ellen and Bruce,

I will try to clarify the process for you and Bruce Amreim once I have a moment to do so.  With a bit of luck it may be today at some point.

-Tim

TIMOTHY KUHN

Normal 0 false false false false oNotPromoteQF /> EN-US X-NONE X-NONE ontGrowAutofit />

1.       Createtrue/false question slide.  True value 100 pt.   False value0.  Label True Acknowledge and Label False Don’t acknowledge (or couldjust drag off slide and it would not be option)

2.       Publishas SCORM, but don’t zip. Give filename1

3.       Createa new html folder in the publish folders in step 2.

4.       Createan index.html webpage that has a link or links to the PDFs that needAcknowledge and reported to SCORM.  Be sure to place your PDFs in thisfolder as well.  Create links in the index.html document to point to thePDFs

5.       Goback to the original story file and insert web object on True/False slide,browse to the newly created folder with index.html (webpage with pdf(s))

6.       Savethe story file.

7.       Publishas SCORM (IMPORTANT, be sure to publish as same filename as in step 2 exceptadd a “2” to the filename. i.e. filename2

8.       Goto filename1 and copy the html folder that you created (and which contains thePDFs that the index.html links to)

9.       Pastethe html folder from step 3 (and it’s contents index.html and PDF(s) into thepublished folders of filename2.

10.   Zipthe filename2 files

11.   Uploadto your LMS

Result:  Trainees will access the LMS, open theSCORM project, see the webpage that links locally to the index.html file thatis contained with the zipped files, open the PDF or PDFs, view, print, etc.with browser, then click the True/Acknowledge button, then Submit.  TheTrue will indicate 100%, thus the user Acknowledgement of PDF is tracked inSCORM.

    Another option is to post the PDF within your LMS andlink to it via a web object as well.  Or have the PDF on an website andlink to it via web object.  However, with this method users can get to thedocuments also without running the module.  That is why I came up with theabove.  It is a bit cumbersome, but does work well.

TIMOTHY KUHN

image showing htmlSample folder created with index.html website file created and a 2013pa40.pdf

Image showing the index.html file created (used frontpage here :(  )

image showing filename2 after pasting in the htmlSample folder (that contains the index.hml and PDFs).

Image showing web object created on T/F slide.  Note you must publish the story file without zipping first, then add the web object and navigate to the newly created folder with index.html and PDFs, then save the story file and publish with filename 2 and copy and paste the created files from filename1 into filename 2, then zip, then upload to lms as SCORM.

Image of webpage displaying in web object with acknowledgement

image showing the pdf opening within the web object.  user can view, print, maybe even submit a pdf fill in form, etc. then submit that they acknowledge understanding, etc.

Sorry if my instruction aren't the best, it has been a long week and I'm ready for the weekend so I rushed this response a bit.    If you get stuck contact me.  tkuhn1@hmc.psu.edu or via this forum.

hope this helps, Tim

TIMOTHY KUHN

An even easier and nicer way just came to me.  Instead of using insert web object use the create hyperlink..........for the link just be sure to use ..\\filename.pdf

1. Save the story file

2. publish as SCORM, but don't zip

3. copy the filename.pdf to the published articulate folder

4. Test the story.html (the link should open the relative link to the document/pdf)

5.  Place all files in zip and upload to lms.

This would be great for acknowledging documents and for use of job aids.   (note:  the job aid template shown here was obtained from the elearning hereos website.

TIMOTHY KUHN

In the past I shared a way to insert webobject that pointed to an internal webpage within the published story files.  However an much even easier and nicer way just came to me.  Instead of using insert web object use the create hyperlink..........for the link just be sure to use ..\\filename.pdf                 ..\\filename.pdf        naming convention is important so the relative link will work.  This method doesn’t require as much time or html knowledge.  The filename will just have to be known before saving and publishing………after publishing, copy and paste the filename into the articulate folder and zip and then upload to lms.

Now when the trainee clicks the Job Aid image link it will open the PDF in the browser for viewing and printing….and no need to worry about the link breaking in future due to someone change link on an outside webpage.  To update pdf link/document one would just republish and reupload.

 

1. Save the story file

 2. publish as SCORM, but don't zip

 3. copy the filename.pdf to the published articulate folder

 4. Test the story.html (the link should open the relative link to the document/pdf)

 5.  Place all files in zip and upload to lms.

 This would be great for acknowledging documents and for use of job aids.  

Attached is a functioning sample (zip file) and the story file.

 

 

vimal singh

Hello everyone, 

I also have the requirement that i want to track my interactive pdf. this pdf has itself mcq and other click activity. i want to report this pdf on LMS and can track it on scorm. 

Is it possible in storyline or in any other tools. where interactive pdf can be easily converted into scorm compliance.

Please let me know if any one have idea about it.

Crystal Horn

Hi there, Vimal.  From what you're describing, it sounds like you could bring in the .pdf as a web object.  Storyline can track either quiz results or the number of slides viewed, and it sends this information to an LMS.

So you could potentially track whether this object was viewed as learners progress through your slides, but Storyline won't be able to send specific information about the learners' interactions with the .pdf as a web object.

Can you rebuild that material into an interactive Storyline course?

Dawn Cox

Great idea! Another option that ended up being what my stakeholder wanted is to create a slide with a statement on it acknowledging completion of the content. Place a button below the statement with a hotspot over it. Once they click the hotspot, it takes them to the final slide in the series which thanks them for completing the eLearning. I imported this into Rise as the stakeholder wanted a rise course but an acknowledgement wasn't something that could be easily created in Rise360.