SimTutor author allows you to choose between using our built-in light learning management system (LMS), or using your own LMS by exporting your simulation into a SCORM package, or integrating via LTI. For help exporting simulations, check out our article about exporting SCORM, or this article for LTI integration
SCORM
There are two types of SCORM exports you can use, both having their advantages and disadvantages. Here is a quick comparison between using those two options, or alternatively using SimTutor's built-in LMS.
SCORM Package
Sits in your LMS locally, no contact with SimTutor servers - can be run offline.
All SimTutor content and your media is downloaded and stored within the SCORM package
Any update to the simulation will need to be reexported, and reuploaded into your system
Does not communicate with SimTutor, meaning no reporting data is passed back to our system.
Basic reporting data is instead directly posted to your LMS's gradebook for you to use
Users are automatically logged in with access through your LMS
Online Linking SCORM
Sits in your LMS, but still needs to communicate with SimTutor servers
All SimTutor content and your media is streamed at the time of student/user accessing the sim
Any update to the simulation are automatically made when you re-publish the simulation on SimTutor Author.
Reporting data is sent back to SimTutor's servers, so can be accessed in SimTutor's reporting section.
Basic reporting data is also directly posted to your LMS's gradebook for you to use
Users are automatically logged in with access through your LMS
SimTutor LMS
Sits on your SimTutor dashboard
Students/users access simulations via their own online dashboard via SimTutor
Any update to the simulation are automatically made when you re-publish the simulation on SimTutor Author.
Reporting data is sent back to SimTutor's servers, so can be accessed in SimTutor's reporting section.
Data is not posted back to your own LMS - only recorded in SimTutors reporting section.
Users will need to be given access via the many different simulation sharing methods we have. See here for more information.
LTI
LTI behaves very similarly to Online Linking SCORM as seen above, with a few differences:
The initial LTI integration requires you to set up a secure LTI connection between SimTutor and your LMS using the public and private keys given.
Once SimTutor has been integrated, you can add each simulation as an assignment or link within your LMS using the Simulation ID.
These assignments/links link out directly to the specified simulation.
All SimTutor content and your media is streamed at the time of student/user accessing the sim.
Any update to the simulation is automatically made when you re-publish the simulation on SimTutor Author.
Reporting data is sent back to SimTutor's servers, so can be accessed in SimTutor's reporting section.
Basic reporting data is also directly posted to your LMS's gradebook for you to use
Users are automatically logged in with access through your LMS