Hi everyon
I need to create an online course for students studying for CEMAP examinations (Mortgage Qualifications) I need to deleiver the course in either CD format or online. My questions are:-
1) Can the courses created using this application be paid for by students when published
2) If so can e import a larg bank of questions and answers and get them to randomly rotate
3) If we use online can we upload to our servers so we can restrict access to only paying students

many thanks for any answers you my give
mark

Hi Mark
In order...
1. Yes you can do what you like with the generated content, that's yours and you have full rights to do what you want to with it, and retain full rights to the materials you use (unless they're someone else's to start with!). You don't even have to mention that it's been made with Courselab but I bet the development team wouldn't mind if you did!!
What you can't do is to tinker with the Courselab app itself.
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2. I've not seen a way that you can import a large number of questions. However as they are all made up of XML data it might be possible. I don't know of anyone thats tried this as yet. Within your field there will be a set number of permutations you might be better off making a standard set of inclusive core teaching modules ie equity release modules, Financial regulations etc
Rotating 'randomly' is a little more tricky, the SCORM API expects a structured lesson this isn't explicit in the SCORM standards themselves but it tends to be the usual teaching model... so the primary choice is linear or random. However SCORM 2004 supports more flexibility in its path through material, in Courselab this is the task controller object, you do need some triggers to change the path through the content from being strictly linear though. The context this is mostly used in is to tailor a single module so that it suits many levels of understanding by having multiple paths through the same material set. You need to set triggers and trap points to change the paths. A word of warning this is one of the more complex tools that's built into Courselab. I put a reference in another strand for background reading that might make its use a little clearer.
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3. Of course you can, any online material can be made open to all or restricted to specific individuals or groups. If on the internet you could either have a secure area where the CD type delivered modules live OR you could install a Content or Learning Management System. In terms of content delivery an L/CMS is a good idea as it enables you to track who has done what and when, how well they've done and a host of other information. The best option if you are or trying to be a serious provider of online 'educational' material will be an LMS. See Moodle, Claroline, KEWL etc. If this is a commercial venture then the CMS or LMS is the only real option to follow, remember give someone a CD and they can make as many copies as they like, you loose control of your materials.
Regards
Nick

Hi Nick
wow what a response, many thanks for the time and effort you have put into responding to my questions. This is the most detailed response I have ever had on any forum I have posted questions.
I wasnt sure about using courselab due to the commercial aspects. I have been looking at Mindflash which seems to be 80% of what we want to do but there are monthly fees and it is all web based with no CD distrubution. I understand the concerns about Cd distribution as we thought the same but thought we could get round it by copy protecting the Cds.
I will now re look at Courselab and have a feeling that this is the ay to go.
It sounds like you have a good understanding of the system so dont be suprised if you see more questions from me in the future.
Again many thanks for your time and effort. You are a credit to this community
Mark

You could use some form of encryption but once unencrypted then the same problem occurs. The user can do whatever they like with the contents.
You could 'brand' the content itself by adding comments here and there within the XML files themselves before burning to CD using "<!--" your comment "-->"
A search should find you a utility to add some branding into the images themselves which are invisible. It's a basic form of text encryption, or hiding text within an image coding. This would probably do the job but only with jpegs http://www.safe-install.com/programs/encrypt-text-in-picture.html

Another good idea is to lodge a copy with a Solicitor as a sealed copy, in this case anyone producing a 'copy' after the date of your release is going to be on very shaky ground if claiming it is their own work. You should be able to claim rights to royalties without much hassle :)It does work I've used this myself.

The tags for xml comments are
< ! - - put your comment here - - > (loose the spaces between the first four and last three characters). The pages here interpret them as an html comment so hide them.

Else you're welcome Mark, I don't see much point in having a forum like this if users don't try and offer something, least I can do for getting to use the software for free :)