SCORM is an acronym for the Shareable Content Object Reference Model. It is a technical specification or set of instructions that can be used to standardize the way eLearning courses are created called SCORM compliant courses.
Let simplify all this jargon and explain more about what is Shareable Content Object Reference Model? What is SCORM compliant LMS? How SCORM works? And more.
The word SCORM comprises two components: Shareable Content Object (SCO) and Reference Model (RM). To exactly understand the meaning it is necessary to understand these two elements:
This packaging content element decides how a piece of content should be physically delivered. The content which is created within SCORM is shareable and can be reused across multiple tools and platforms. It works the same as a standard plug works for all electrical devices, the SCORM compliant content understood by all compatible learning platforms and tools. When you creating eLearning courses with SCORM compliant authoring tools the output is as a Zip folder that contains all necessary information to publish and host the course on SCORM compliant LMS.
The “RM” in SCORM is a specification or set of rules followed by eLearning professionals. It includes standards for packaging and describing content, how the LMS launches content, how content is communicated to the LMS, and how learners navigate from module to module.
The SCORM Run-Time specification states that the LMS should launch content in a web browser, either in a new window or in a frameset. All this communication happens in the context of a single attempt on a single SCO. Once the content is launched, it uses a well-defined algorithm to locate an ECMAScript API provided by the LMS.
The very first version of SCORM 1.1 was introduced back in 2001 which was a widely used version, SCORM 1.2 was released in the same year. In 2004, SCORM 2004 1st edition and it’s 2nd edition was launched in 2004. Another most popular one widely used in the eLearning industry, the 2004 3rd edition of it, was released in 2006. The latest version of SCORM Experience API (xAPI), which is now on the verge of getting more popularity, was introduced in 2013.
If you want to upload eLearning courses in LMS, it is compulsory to have SCORM compliant course. It is required to make courses SCORM compliant to track the user’s progress and performance in LMS.
We can run SCORM compliant courses in any SCORM LMS without redesigning or recoding them. If you are not satisfied with your current LMS software, you can move to a new LMS vendor and easily migrate course content.
Today, it is the most widely used content standard in the eLearning industry. But, do you know who invented SCORM and why? To understand this it is essential to go through some glimpse of its history.
It was first created by the US government’s Advanced Distributed Learning (ADL) project in 2000 as a de-facto standard for eLearning content.
In the late 1990s, the US government has started using eLearning courses to deliver training to its various departments. These departments developed their eLearning courses supported by their LMS and can’t re-run the same courses in other LMS courses. This results in a lot of chaos and duplication as these departments were not working on the same methods. To end this problem, the eLearning content standard SCORM was developed in 2000.
Before jump into How to create SCORM courses, let’s discuss SCORM compliant courses first. SCORM compliant courses can be created in any compliant eLearning authoring. These courses look like a simple Zip file, and one can easily publish them by a tool in SCORM format.
However, that Zip package contains a compliant course with all files needed to make that course run correctly in any SCORM-compliant learning management system. Here we are showing some steps to create a SCORM course in Paradiso LMS.
1. On the left menu, click on “courses” and choose the “create a course” option.
2. Type the course name, choose a category and write a description of the new course. Afterward, you can select the type that you would like your course to have. It could be self-paced, blended, classroom training, virtual class.
Paradiso LMS is SCORM compliant through which you can upload and deliver SCORM compliant courses quickly and easily. We have made three easy steps to create a course. You can try our free trial for more details.
Successor to SCORM, Experience API (xAPI) or Tin can API is an eLearning specification that enables you to track, store and share the learning -related activity of the user across platforms. It can track the learning experience and real-world scenarios of wide range of devices in multiple contexts. xAPI allows creators and managers of online learning programs to better understand how users are learning, both online and offline.
xAPI is modern eLearning standard and is trending for a good reason in the market. xAPI tracks all essential learning activities that make your learning experience smoother and more efficient. You can easily integrate it into any Learning Management System (LMS).
xAPI offer various online learning feature like social learning, team-based learning, gamified learning, etc. We have discussed what is xAPI? Now we’ll discuss various benefits of xAPI in detail.
xAPI allows you to collect multiple types of data from a vast array of sources, both online and offline. It gives more accurate results and can collect advanced data like device, location, screen size, clicks, advanced tracking, and some offline data such as real-world performance and team-based eLearning. It gives a holistic view of learning activity by integrating it into one learning records.
xAPI can track the activities of your employees or learners like total time spent, quiz results, report of a specific course, time spent on a particular module, and more. It can also record offline data of the learner, and a Learning Record Store (LRS) can save the records of these learning activities. Data stored in the LRS can be easily transferred within the LRS and other reporting systems.
xAPI can present data in simpler ways and generate reports which are easier to interpret. It generate reports which are clearer and easier to interpret. It automatically generates detailed reports that You do not have to download and filter in some analysis software. You can directly send the report to the concerned person.
xAPI makes learning more efficient and lovable for you. It can personalize your eLearning courses and programs and enabler you to access readily available content recommended for you without searching through lots of content, most of which is irrelevant.
The most recent and flexible eLearning standard suits the current environment in which learners can access learning material anytime, anywhere. You can learn at your pace while traveling, at work, or socializing with friends. Moreover, it lets you track these learning experiences in one simple, consistent format.
It’s standard has been widely used in the eLearning industry for quite a long time. But new eLearning standards like xAPI is being adopted quickly in the industry.
You will have to dive deep into the technical nuts and bolt to make an informed choice of a SCORM compliant LMS. It is necessary to check which version is provided and does the authoring tools create SCORM compliant courses or not? One of the best LMS platform, Paradiso Solutions comes up with SCORM 1.2 and SCORM 2004 versions.
