curriculum-package-common-cartridge

• Create portable LMS packages (works across Canvas, Moodle, Blackboard, D2L, Schoology)
• Export courses with QTI 2.1 assessments (portable assessment format)
• Include LTI tools in course packages
• Set up gradebook categories and weights
• Package courses with discussion forums
• Need better interoperability than SCORM provides

| Feature | SCORM | Common Cartridge |

|---------|-------|------------------|

| Assessment Format | Embedded in content | QTI 2.1 (portable) |

| External Tools | No | LTI 1.1/1.3 support |

| Gradebook Setup | Basic scoring | Full categories & weights |

| Discussion Forums | No | Native support |

| Interoperability | LMS-specific wrappers | Platform-agnostic |

| Modern LMS Support | Declining | Preferred format |

Use Common Cartridge when:

• You need QTI assessments (portable across systems)
• You want to embed LTI tools (e.g., YouTube, Google Docs, simulations)
• You need full gradebook configuration
• You want discussion forums in the package
• You need maximum interoperability

Use SCORM when:

• You need simple completion tracking
• Legacy LMS requires it
• Content is standalone module (not full course)

• Curriculum Materials: Lessons (HTML/Markdown), assessments (QTI 2.1), resources
• Course Metadata: Title, code, description, dates, copyright
• Gradebook Configuration: Assignment groups, weights, grading standards
• Optional: LTI tools, discussion forums, prerequisites

All templates in /templates/common-cartridge/:

• imsmanifest.xml - Main manifest (required)
• course-settings.xml - Gradebook and course configuration
• lti-tool.xml - LTI Basic 1.0/1.1 tool links
• discussion-topic.xml - Discussion forums
• assessment-meta.xml - QTI assessment metadata
• web-link.xml - External web links

See /templates/common-cartridge/README.md for full documentation.

1. Gather Course Components

Collect and organize:

• Course Information: Title, code, description, dates, credits
• Learning Objectives: Aligned to standards (TEKS, CCSS, NGSS, etc.)
• Lessons: HTML files with content
• Assessments: QTI 2.1 XML files (use curriculum.export-qti skill)
• Multimedia: Images, videos, audio (optimized)
• Resources: PDFs, documents, handouts
• LTI Tools (optional): External tool configurations
• Discussion Topics (optional): Forum prompts and settings

2. Structure Course Hierarchy

Define organizational structure:

```

Course: Introduction to Biology (BIO-101)

├── Module 1: Cell Structure

│ ├── Lesson 1.1: Cell Membranes

│ ├── Lesson 1.2: Organelles

│ ├── Lab Activity: Microscope Use (LTI tool)

│ ├── Discussion: Cell Theory Debate

│ └── Assessment: Module 1 Quiz (QTI)

├── Module 2: Genetics

│ ├── Lesson 2.1: DNA Structure

│ ├── Lesson 2.2: Replication

│ ├── Interactive Sim: DNA Replication (LTI)

│ ├── Discussion: Ethics of Genetic Engineering

│ └── Assessment: Genetics Test (QTI)

└── Final Exam (QTI)

```

3. Configure Gradebook

Set up assignment groups and weights:

```xml

30

20

20

30

```

Total weights should sum to 100%.

4. Generate Package Structure

Create directory structure:

```bash

course-package/

├── imsmanifest.xml # Main manifest (required)

├── course-settings.xml # Course config (optional but recommended)

├── lessons/

│ ├── lesson-1-1.html

│ ├── lesson-1-2.html

│ ├── lesson-2-1.html

│ └── lesson-2-2.html

├── assessments/

│ ├── module-1-quiz/

│ │ ├── assessment_meta.xml

│ │ └── assessment.xml # QTI 2.1

│ ├── module-2-test/

│ │ ├── assessment_meta.xml

│ │ └── assessment.xml

│ └── final-exam/

│ ├── assessment_meta.xml

│ └── assessment.xml

├── discussions/

│ ├── cell-theory-debate.xml

│ └── ethics-genetic-eng.xml

├── lti-tools/

│ ├── microscope-sim.xml

│ └── dna-replication-sim.xml

├── resources/

│ ├── images/

│ │ ├── cell-diagram.png

│ │ └── dna-structure.png

│ ├── videos/

│ │ └── cell-division.mp4

│ └── documents/

│ └── lab-safety-guidelines.pdf

└── web-links/

└── khan-academy-biology.xml

```

5. Generate imsmanifest.xml

Use template with variable substitution:

```xml

IMS Common Cartridge

1.3.0

Introduction to Biology

```

6. Add QTI Assessments

Export assessments to QTI 2.1 format:

```bash

# Use curriculum.export-qti skill

/curriculum.export-qti --assessment-file "module-1-quiz.json" --output "assessments/module-1-quiz/" --version "2.1"

```

Ensure QTI compliance:

• Item types: Multiple Choice, True/False, Fill-in-the-Blank, Essay, Matching, Ordering
• Response processing
• Feedback (correct/incorrect)
• Scoring

7. Add LTI Tools (Optional)

Create LTI tool configurations:

```xml

Virtual Microscope Simulator

https://virtualmicroscope.edu/launch

cell-structure

public

```

8. Add Discussion Forums (Optional)

Create discussion topic configurations:

```xml

Read the historical context of cell theory discovery. Then, discuss:

• Why was cell theory controversial in the 1800s?
• How did microscopy advances enable this discovery?

]]>

threaded

true

10

points

```

9. Package as .imscc

```bash

# Create ZIP archive

cd course-package

zip -r ../bio-101-2025.imscc *

# Verify structure

unzip -l ../bio-101-2025.imscc | head -20

```

Required files:

• imsmanifest.xml (must be at root)
• All resources referenced in manifest

File naming:

• Use lowercase, hyphens (not spaces)
• Consistent naming convention
• No special characters

10. Validate Package

```bash

# Validate CC 1.3 compliance

/curriculum.validate-cc --package bio-101-2025.imscc

```

Validation checks:

• Manifest schema validity (IMS CC 1.3 XSD)
• All file references exist
• QTI 2.1 compliance
• LTI configuration validity
• Resource types correct
• No orphaned files

11. Test Import

Test in target LMS platforms:

Canvas:

```

1. Go to Course Settings → Import Course Content
2. Select "Common Cartridge 1.x Package"
3. Upload .imscc file
4. Choose content to import (all or selective)
5. Wait for import to complete
6. Verify: modules, lessons, assessments, gradebook

```

Moodle:

```

1. Go to Course Administration → Restore
2. Upload .imscc file
3. Select import options
4. Restore to course
5. Verify content and settings

```

Blackboard:

```

1. Control Panel → Packages and Utilities → Import Package
2. Select .imscc file
3. Choose import options
4. Submit
5. Verify course content

```

```bash

# Basic CC package

/curriculum.package-common-cartridge \

--materials "curriculum-artifacts/" \

--output "course.imscc" \

--course-id "BIO-101" \

--course-title "Introduction to Biology"

# With gradebook configuration

/curriculum.package-common-cartridge \

--materials "curriculum-artifacts/" \

--output "course.imscc" \

--course-id "BIO-101" \

--course-title "Introduction to Biology" \

--gradebook-config "gradebook.json"

# With QTI assessments

/curriculum.package-common-cartridge \

--materials "curriculum-artifacts/" \

--qti-dir "assessments/" \

--output "course.imscc"

# With LTI tools

/curriculum.package-common-cartridge \

--materials "curriculum-artifacts/" \

--lti-config "lti-tools.json" \

--output "course.imscc"

# Full example

/curriculum.package-common-cartridge \

--materials "curriculum-artifacts/" \

--qti-dir "assessments/" \

--lti-config "lti-tools.json" \

--discussions "discussions/" \

--gradebook-config "gradebook.json" \

--course-id "BIO-101" \

--course-title "Introduction to Biology" \

--course-code "BIO-101" \

--start-date "2025-01-15" \

--end-date "2025-05-15" \

--output "bio-101-2025.imscc"

# Optimize for specific LMS

/curriculum.package-common-cartridge \

--materials "curriculum-artifacts/" \

--optimize-for "canvas" \

--output "course.imscc"

# Help

/curriculum.package-common-cartridge --help

```

Before Packaging:

1. Export QTI Assessments:

```bash

/curriculum.export-qti --assessment "quiz-1.json" --output "assessments/quiz-1/" --version "2.1"

```

1. Validate Content Accessibility:

```bash

/curriculum.review-accessibility --materials "lessons/" --standard "WCAG-2.1"

```

1. Check Pedagogical Soundness:

```bash

/curriculum.review-pedagogy --materials "curriculum-artifacts/"

```

After Packaging:

1. Validate CC Package:

```bash

/curriculum.validate-cc --package "course.imscc"

```

1. Test in LMS (cc-validator agent):

```bash

/agent.cc-validator --action "test" --package "course.imscc" --lms-targets "canvas,moodle,blackboard"

```

Primary Output:

• course.imscc - Common Cartridge package (ZIP format)

Optional Outputs:

• manifest-validation-report.txt - Validation results
• package-structure.txt - Package contents listing
• import-instructions.md - LMS-specific import instructions

File Organization

✅ Do:

• Use clear, descriptive file names
• Organize by content type (lessons/, assessments/, resources/)
• Use lowercase with hyphens (not spaces)
• Keep file paths under 255 characters

❌ Don't:

• Use spaces in file names
• Use special characters (except hyphens, underscores)
• Create deeply nested directories (>5 levels)
• Include absolute file paths

QTI Assessments

✅ Do:

• Use QTI 2.1 format (most compatible)
• Include response processing
• Add feedback for correct/incorrect
• Specify point values
• Include metadata

❌ Don't:

• Use proprietary assessment formats
• Embed assessments in HTML (use QTI)
• Forget to link assessments in gradebook

LTI Tools

✅ Do:

• Use HTTPS launch URLs
• Specify privacy level clearly
• Test tool launch in target LMS
• Include icon URLs
• Document custom parameters

❌ Don't:

• Use HTTP-only URLs (insecure)
• Forget to configure privacy settings
• Hardcode user information in URLs

Gradebook Setup

✅ Do:

• Make weights sum to 100%
• Group similar assignments
• Specify grading standards
• Link assessments to gradebook
• Set reasonable due dates

❌ Don't:

• Leave assignments unweighted
• Create too many categories (4-6 ideal)
• Forget to specify points possible

Metadata

✅ Do:

• Include complete course information
• Add keywords for searchability
• Specify copyright/license
• Include creation date
• Document prerequisites

❌ Don't:

• Leave metadata fields empty
• Use vague course descriptions
• Forget copyright information

Package Won't Import

Symptom: LMS rejects .imscc file

Causes:

1. Invalid manifest XML
2. Missing required files
3. Incorrect resource types
4. Schema validation failures

Solutions:

```bash

# Validate package

/curriculum.validate-cc --package course.imscc

# Check manifest syntax

xmllint --schema imscc_v1p3.xsd imsmanifest.xml

# Verify all files referenced exist

unzip -l course.imscc

```

Assessments Don't Display

Symptom: QTI assessments show as blank or error

Causes:

1. Invalid QTI 2.1 XML
2. Missing item files
3. Incorrect resource type in manifest

Solutions:

```bash

# Validate QTI

/curriculum.export-qti --validate assessment.xml

# Check resource type in manifest

grep "imsqti_xmlv1p2/imscc_xmlv1p3/assessment" imsmanifest.xml

```

Gradebook Not Configured

Symptom: Assignments don't appear in gradebook

Causes:

1. Missing course-settings.xml
2. Assignments not linked to groups
3. No assignment group weights

Solutions:

• Ensure course-settings.xml is included
• Link each assignment to assignment_group
• Verify weights sum to 100%

LTI Tools Don't Launch

Symptom: Tool links show error or don't open

Causes:

1. Invalid launch URL
2. Missing privacy settings
3. Tool not configured in LMS

Solutions:

• Test launch URL manually
• Verify privacy_level is set
• Configure tool provider in LMS first

• 0: Package created successfully
• 1: Invalid course materials
• 2: Missing required inputs
• 3: QTI validation failed
• 4: Manifest generation failed
• 5: Packaging (ZIP) failed
• 6: Validation failed

• [IMS Common Cartridge 1.3 Specification](https://www.imsglobal.org/cc/ccv1p3/imscc_profilev1p3-html/)
• [IMS QTI 2.1 Specification](https://www.imsglobal.org/question/qtiv2p1/imsqti_infov2p1.html)
• [IMS Basic LTI 1.0](https://www.imsglobal.org/specs/ltiv1p0)
• [Canvas CC Documentation](https://canvas.instructure.com/doc/api/file.common_cartridge.html)
• Templates: /templates/common-cartridge/README.md
• Production Guide: [PRODUCTION_GUIDE.md](../../../PRODUCTION_GUIDE.md) Section 3

• curriculum.export-qti - Export assessments to QTI 2.1
• curriculum.validate-cc - Validate CC packages
• curriculum.package-lms - Alternative LMS packaging (SCORM, Canvas, Moodle)
• cc-validator agent - Automated CC testing and validation
• PRODUCTION_GUIDE.md - Complete CC production workflows