For registered training organisations (RTO), and vocational education and training (VET) providers, the right learning tools can streamline operations and enhance course creation, delivery and more. For businesses, eLearning tools can simplify corporate training initiatives and help you track employee progress and skill development.
However, for any training software to be effective, it needs to integrate with your existing solutions. Having information stored on one platform without being shared across systems leads to siloed data which is more difficult to access and analyse.
How do customised eLearning software solutions ensure simplified data sharing and integration? The answer lies in SCORM. In this article, we define SCORM and how it works, and detail how you can use it to enhance training processes.
What is SCORM?
SCORM stands for Shareable Content Object Reference Model. It represents the international technical eLearning standards and regulates the way in which online learning content integrates with Learning Management Systems (LMS).
Essentially, SCORM tells developers how to write their code so that it can “get along” with other eLearning software products.
A good analogy to help you understand what SCORM is would be to consider how USB ports and cables work. No matter what brand of device you have—whether it’s a laptop, smartphone, or printer—if it has a USB port, you can connect it with any USB-compatible device or accessory. The USB standard ensures that devices from different manufacturers can connect and work together seamlessly.
You want your courses to be compatible with SCORM, meaning they have a “USB connector” that can plug into any SCORM-compliant LMS. This compatibility allows you to move courses between different systems without worrying about whether they’ll work correctly.
How Does SCORM Work?
A sharable content object reference model (SCORM) works by providing a set of technical standards across three main areas. These dictate how learning content should be packaged, delivered, and tracked in an LMS.
1. Content Packaging
SCORM specification details how content should be created. A SCORM file or SCORM package is known as a Sharable Content Object (SCO), which can be anything from a single quiz or video to a complete course. Your SCORM packaging should come with a manifest file which outlines the SCO’s structure and tells your LMS how to organise and present the content.
2. Communication
This technical standard is all about how your eLearning content shares information with your LMS through a run-time environment. Whenever a learner interacts with a lesson, video or assessment, a SCORM API sends the data from your eLearning platform to your learning management system. This helps you to track progress through courses, record learner scores and effectively report on training initiatives.
The SCORM standard specifies certain data elements that must be included, such as learner ID, lesson status, and score. These standards ensure that no matter which platform you’re using, the data will be readable and usable by your LMS.
3. Sequencing
A SCORM course is often made up of multiple elements like lessons and assessments. Sequencing defines how learners progress through these elements. SCORM provides mechanisms for delivering the right learning content at the right time, based on predefined rules. For example, it might restrict access to one lesson until another is completed.
These sequencing rules are defined in the manifest file that is part of the SCORM package. The LMS interprets these rules to guide the learner smoothly through the course, ensuring that the content is presented in a logical order.
What is SCORM Compliance?
SCORM compliance refers to the adherence of eLearning software or content to the SCORM standards. When a software or LMS is SCORM compliant, it means it can effectively use, import, or export SCORM-compliant eLearning content. This allows your eLearning materials to be compatible with any SCORM-compliant LMS, ensuring they can be easily integrated, tracked, and reported on within your existing training systems.
For example, Cloud Assess offers SCORM compliance. This means that any courses and assessments you create using the solution can be seamlessly integrated into your LMS platform. While Cloud Assess includes many features typically found in an LMS, it isn’t a full-fledged learning management system. However, by adhering to SCORM standards, Cloud Assess allows you to leverage its advanced assessment functionality while still maintaining your primary LMS. The two platforms can share data, giving you a comprehensive view of your training initiatives.
Not all eLearning solutions are SCORM compliant. If you’re already using a learning management system, it’s important to choose software that meets the SCORM standard. This will make it much easier to integrate with your existing systems and ensure that your eLearning content is compatible across different platforms. This is why we have listed SCORM-compliance as one of the best LMS features to consider.
Tools for SCORM Training
There are many different types of tools that can help you provide SCORM-compliant training.
- Authoring Tools. The best eLearning authoring software platforms comply with SCORM standards. This makes it easy for you to create versatile and multimedia courses and assessments, and track them effectively through your LMS.
- Cloud LMS Platforms. SCORM and cloud learning management systems go hand-in-hand. Cloud-based LMS solutions are accessible online, making it easier for them to integrate with other online tools and platforms, including SCORM content. This SCORM to cloud LMS integration is often seamless compared to onsite management solutions, which may have more limitations in sharing information and connecting with external systems.
- Conversion Tools. While not all eLearning solutions are SCORM-compliant, that doesn’t mean that you can’t use them. Solutions like SCORM Cloud can be used to convert training material into a compliant format, expanding the tools that organisations can use.
- Testing Tools. If you want to be sure that a new platform will integrate seamlessly with your LMS, you can use a SCORM testing tool. This checks the format of the content and validates that it meets SCORM standards.
How Do You Create SCORM Content?
1. Pick the Right eLearning Software
Plenty of eLearning software platform use SCORM standards. Picking the right solution for your needs will not only make it easier to create SCORM courses that incorporate multimedia and interactive elements. It will also simplify integration of that content with your learning management system with minimal extra effort.
2. Sign Up For a Trial or Demo
After identifying a tool that seems to fit your requirements, it’s important to sign up for a trial or request a demo. This allows you to create test courses and see firsthand how well the software aligns with your organisation’s needs. During this trial period, you can also assess how well the tool integrates with your existing LMS, though some integration features might be limited in the trial version.
3. Test the Format
Once you’ve developed a test course, use a SCORM testing tool to ensure it meets SCORM standards. Testing tools like SCORM Cloud allow you to upload your content and verify that it works correctly with SCORM-compliant LMSs. This step is essential to ensure that your eLearning content will function properly once deployed in your LMS.
4. Convert Existing Materials
If you already have materials that you would like to integrate with your LMS, you have two possible options. You can use a conversion tool like SCORMcloud, or you can work with a company like Cloud Assess to digitise your training content.
Why Do You Need to Use SCORM?
The main benefit of SCORM is ease of integration. As long as the LMS, courses and tools meet the SCORM standard, they will all be able to integrate without any issues.
For training providers, utilising eLearning software that has SCORM capabilities, like Cloud Assess, will provide an enhanced experience, not only in delivering the materials but also to track the progress of students and satisfactory completion of learning content and learning activities.
SCORM is a widely accepted industry standard and is well regarded. In fact, it has become the norm and ‘expected’ that eLearning content is SCORM compliant.
When you are assessing your requirements for eLearning software, it is important to keep an eye out for whether the software meets SCORM standards.
Other SCORM Benefits
- Content is available anywhere, anytime. There’s no need to reconfigure or undertake complicated installations.
- Content interoperability reduces costs and administration in providing training and education.
- More flexibility in your content creation, with the option to use a wide range of SCORM-compliant platforms.
- Durability is second nature to SCORM. Even with the rapid changes in technology, it’s able to evolve without extensive redesign or recoding.
- Versatile and multimedia content that can be adapted to different learning styles for groups or individual learners.
- Every learner is different. SCORM provides the capability to deliver personalised learning paths with consistency.
The Future of SCORM
While SCORM remains a dominant standard for eLearning, especially with SCORM 2004, newer standards like xAPI (Tin Can API) and cmi5 are gaining traction. These standards expand the possibilities for tracking and delivering eLearning by allowing for offline learning, mobile access, interactive content and more detailed analytics. As eLearning continues to evolve, these newer standards may complement or even surpass SCORM in certain areas, but SCORM’s established presence ensures it will remain relevant for years to come.
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FAQs About SCORM Compliance
What versions of SCORM are used?
The most commonly used SCORM versions are SCORM 1.2, introduced in 2001, and SCORM 2004, which added support for more complex sequencing and navigation of content. Both SCORM versions remain widely supported and are integral to ensuring compatibility and interoperability across different eLearning platforms.
What is the difference between SCORM and SCROM?
SCROM is a common misspelling of SCORM, which stands for Sharable Content Object Reference Model. There is no standard or technology officially known as SCROM.
What is the difference between LMS and SCORM?
A Learning Management System (LMS) is a software platform that hosts, delivers, and tracks eLearning courses and training programs. SCORM, on the other hand, is a set of standards that ensures eLearning content can be integrated and tracked consistently across different LMS platforms. Essentially, SCORM defines how content and LMSs interact, while an LMS is the system that manages the content and learner data.
How does Cloud Assess compare to SCORM Cloud?
Cloud Assess is an eLearning platform with a strong focus on assessment capabilities. It supports SCORM-compliant content, and provides a number of advanced LMS features including customisable assessments, skill management and compliance tracking.
SCORM Cloud, developed by Rustici Software, is a cloud-based service specifically designed for testing, delivering, and tracking SCORM-compliant eLearning content.
SCORM Cloud’s focus is on testing, converting and creating SCORM-based content, while Cloud Assess focuses on robust assessment tools with SCORM support as a feature.
