EXTENDING EXISTING E-LEARNING PLATFORMS TO SUPPORT AUTOMATIC CONVERSION OF LEARNING CONTENT TO SCORM Polyxeni Arapi, Nektarios Moumoutzis, Yiannis Maragoudakis, Stavros Christodoulakis Laboratory of Distributed Multimedia Information Systems and Applications Technical University of Crete (MUSIC/TUC) Chania, Greece {xenia, nektar, imarag, stavros}@ced.tuc.gr Abstract A critical issue in eLearning domain today is the preservation of existing learning material and user groups and learning communities already set up in the context of operational eLearning environments as the eLearing environments are being transformed to support the new interoperability specifications. This issue has tremendous economic impact. In this paper we address this issue in the context of a pre-existing eLearning platforms implemented on top of relational database management systems. The assumed architecture is based on two assumptions: (1) the pre-existing eLearning platform is implemented on top of a relational database management system which is used to store all the relevant information and (2) the model to be supported comes in the form of an XML schema. The prototype implementation refers to web-based eLearning platform (Distant Learning Center) based on a solid pedagogical framework (Virtual University Paradigm). The interoperability model adopted is SCORM 1.2. The proposed approach is based on a multi-tier architecture and makes use of software components that allow for the automatic creation of Package Interchange Files (PIF) that could the be uploaded to any SCORM conformant Learning Management System. Keywords SCORM, interoperability, eLearning 1. INTRODUCTION The issue of education has historically received much attention in periods of social transition. All intellectuals aiming at changing the society or some aspects of it have also stressed the role of education. It is thus evident that the current era of transforming our post-modern societies in the so called "information society" pays much attention to education and training as a means to ensure that the necessary competencies and skills are mastered by all the population. Nevertheless the transition phase that we are experiencing today is even more dependent on education and training because of the inherent emphasis on knowledge and continuous learning processes in the new forms of economic and social behavior that are emerging. Effective learning and training is nowadays a necessary precondition to protect the citizens against unemployment and social exclusions as the skills related to the use of information and communication technologies become indispensable. The parallel advances in information and communication technologies make it possible to develop new kinds of educational and training services overcoming the constraints of traditional learning processes that were monopolized by well established institutions. This is an opportunity that has already received much attention and a lot of resources have already been invested in developing educational material as well as establishing learning networks that bring together teachers and learners, trainers and trainees. Until recently no significant efforts were taken to integrate all these systems and learning networks so that the learning resources could be reused thus saving valuable resources. The proliferation of the Internet, the World Wide Web and interoperability standards for digital learning resources create bright new application opportunities for the future. ADL's SCORM model (SCORM 2001) is probably the most important step towards the development of interoperable eLearning systems by providing the means to overcome the incompatibility issues posed by proprietary implementations through proper standard descriptions of learning content objects and related material and functionalities. It is an effort supported by almost all the big players in the eLearning field that gains thrifty acceptance in both commercial and academic environment. It provides reusability and