SCORM: the Basics

SCORM is an acronym for “Sharable Content Object Reference Model”.

As the name implies, SCORM is a guideline for creating units of web based training that plays exactly the same in any SCORM certified Learning Management System. This enables course content to be reused in a variety of systems, allowing organizations involved in eLearning to change their LMS without rewriting expensive custom interfaces. This is the key to protecting your content investment.

SCORM Goals

Advanced Distributed Learning or The ADL is the body that manages the SCORM specification. The ADL created SCORM to address the following four high-level requirements:

  • Reusability

    The flexibility to incorporate parts of courses in any number of courses.

  • Interoperabillity

    The ability to take couse materials developed for one LMS and to use them in another LMS.

  • Accessibility

    The ability to locate and access course materials stored in a single location from multiple independent locations.

  • Durability

    The abillity to withstand technology changes without redesign, reconfiguration or recoding.

SCORM is a ‘Best of the best’ standard. The ADL took the best of existing standards created by the Aviation Industry Computer-Based Training (CBT) Committee (AICC), the IMS Global Learning Consortium, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), the Alliance for Remote Instructional Authoring and Distribution Networks for Europe (ARIADNE) and others to make SCORM. SCORM doesn’t compete with other standards.

The ADL created the first version of their “reference model”. This first version of SCORM (v. 1.4) was introduced in January 2001.

SCORM Specifications

SCORM is composed of three sub-specifications:

  • Content Aggregation Model

    This section is based primarily on XML and specifies how SCORM conformant content should be described and aggregated.

  • Run-Time Environment

    This section is based primarily on JavaScript and specifies how SCORM conformant content communicates with the Learning Management System.

  • Sequencing and Navigation

    This section is based primarily on XML and specifies the rules by which a learner can navigate between SCOs.