Introduction
This guide explains how utilisation tracking works for Skillcast content packages hosted on your own LMS. Tracking this activity helps you monitor learning engagement and ensure accurate billing. You'll also learn about your options for anonymising learner data and using a remote content package for enhanced reporting.
What is Utilisation Tracking?
When a user opens a Skillcast SCORM module hosted on your LMS, their web browser sends a secure message to the Skillcast servers. This message includes:
Student ID - a unique identifier for the learner, set by your LMS (sometimes this may be the learner's email address)
Student Name - as provided by your LMS
The data is sent via HTTPS, ensuring it is encrypted in transit.
Skillcast records the following:
Course title
Student ID
Student name
Date and time the content was accessed
You can review this information in your Billing section to see who has accessed your content.
Student ID Configuration
For accurate tracking and to prevent billing or usage discrepancies, your LMS must provide a consistent and unique Student ID for each learner.
We recommend:
Testing your LMS's Student ID configuration before go-live
Contacting your Customer Success Manager to arrange a test
Data Storage Options
You can choose how learner information is stored:
Anonymised data storage
Student ID and name are encrypted using a salted hash algorithm before being saved in the database
Allows Skillcast to track the number of unique users without identifying individuals
Data cannot be decrypted by Skillcast
Important: Even with anonymisation, Skillcast still processes the data in order to encrypt and store it. If you require data to be truly encrypted before it reaches Skillcast, your LMS must apply encryption prior to sending the data.
Non-anonymised data storage
Student ID and name are stored exactly as provided by your LMS
Allows for detailed utilisation reports showing exactly which learners accessed which modules
For more details or to enable anonymisation, contact your CSM.
Remote Content Package Option
Instead of hosting the SCORM module directly on your LMS, you can use a Remote content package. This option:
Is fully tracked by Skillcast
Records more detailed data than a deployed package, including utilisation and completion status
Enables access to additional features such as Skillcast reporting
A one-time
.ZIPfile is still provided for you to upload to your LMSAny changes made in the Skillcast CMS can be republished and will be immediately reflected on your LMS
For more details, see: E-learning Standards and Features
Deployed content package
A deployed content package is a regular e-learning .ZIP package containing the manifest and content files.
Hosted and launched by your external LMS
Sends utilisation tracking information to the Skillcast servers as described above
Requires correct Student ID configuration for accurate reporting
For Perpetual Licences, it will be sent untracked
Limitations
If your LMS provides inconsistent or duplicate Student IDs, utilisation tracking may be inaccurate and could result in reporting or billing issues.
If anonymised data is provided (or anonymisation is done in the Skillcast system), Skillcast cannot identify or resolve inconsistencies in Student IDs.
Next Steps
You now know how Skillcast utilisation tracking works for content packages hosted on a third-party LMS.
For help with setup, anonymisation options, or testing Student ID configuration, please reach out to your Customer Success Manager by selecting Send us a message via the help icon on your portal, or by emailing [email protected].