What is SCORM

8/7/2019 What is SCORM

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Jan 8, 2007

Jay Lambert, CEO Integrated Learning Services, Inc.

IntroductionWith the recent explosion of e-learning as a preferred method of training delivery due to its highreturn on investment, the same question is likely being asked on an almost daily basis inconference rooms around the country. If we fund this project, how can we ensure that the e-Learning courses built by external designers and developers or that we purchase off-the-shelfwill run on our systems and co-exist with the courses weve already developed internally?

At least this question now has an easy answer. By adhering to standards such as the SCORM,organizations can rest assured that their courseware will run properly on any SCORM-certifiedLMS in the world.

LMS? SCORM?

Dont worry. In this article, well take a high-level view of the acronyms behind the e-learningdelivery boom.

What is SCORM?SCORM stands for Shareable Content Object Reference Model. It is a framework used to defineand access information about learning objects so they can be easily shared among differentlearning management systems (LMSs).SCORM is the de facto collection of standards used when developing e-learning deliverables,whether you are in the government, private corporations or the education community.

Why is this framework so important? There are so many people producing e-learning now andlaunching it on different systems, that a method of ensuring compatibility between systems and

courseware is vital. SCORM is this method.By complying to SCORMs coding requirements, you create a foundational reference point sothat systems and courses are able to talk with each other and share data about how learnersaccess courses, progress through them, and perform in the end of course test questions. Thisinteroperability would not be possible without a commonly-used model such as SCORM,meaning that it would be nearly impossible to track training participation and completions of e-learning modules without it. This could quickly sink a compliance type training initiative.

As a rule, SCORM is guided by six key, high-level requirements (called the ilities). These areAccessibility (learning content is accessible and available from remote locations),Adaptability(instruction can be tailored to the needs of the individual learner and the organization),Affordability (time and costs associated with developing and delivering learning content are

reduced),Durability (learning content does not have to be significantly redesigned to keep upwith technological advances),Interoperability (learning content developed in one location withone set of tools can be used in another location with a different set of tools) and Reusability(learning content elements can be re-used in multiple contexts).

Okay, youre thinking, so SCORM is a standard used to develop e-learning products. Well, notexactly.
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SCORM isnt really the standard all by itself; rather it is a collection of the specifications andstandards produced by such standards bodies such as the Aviation Industry CBT Committee(AICC), IMS Global Learning Consortium and Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers(IEEE). SCORM integrates all of these specifications into a cohesive and usable model that e-learning developers can adhere to.

The SCORM reference model is comprised of the following four separate parts (called booksin SCORM lingo).

The SCORM Overview book highlights the objectives of SCORM and lists thespecifications and standards of the different bodies included in SCORM.

The SCORM Content Aggregation Model (CAM) book describes the SCORMcomponents used to build a learning experience from various resources andprovides instructions on how to package those components so they may beexchanged from system to system. The content model contains Assets,Sharable Content Objects (SCOs) and Aggregations. Assets are the individualmaterials that make up a course such as graphics, web pages, Flash movies,documents, etc. Sharable Content Objects (SCOs) are a collection of one or

more of these assets that together become a single launchable learningresource. Aggregations detail how assets and SCOs are put together. Contentpackaging provides the organizational layout of the e-learning deliverable,showing how the different instructional activities relate to one another. Thispiece provides one of the many benefits of SCORM because it specifies howto assemble courseware so that it may be transferred between systems. Inother words, your SCORM-conformant courses will still work should youdecide to switch LMSs in the future.

The SCORM Run-Time Environment (RTE) book covers Learning ManagementSystem requirements and standard elements that will be used to pass backinformation about how the learner performs in the course.

The SCORM Sequencing and Navigation (SN) book covers navigationsequencing.

So in summary, SCORM is important because it makes web-based training content and theapplications that control and display that content to learners interoperable in a standard way. Ifyou have a SCORM conformant LMS, you can be fairly certain that learning content that is alsoSCORM conformant will integrate successfully with your system. And that is a good feeling tohave.

What are Learning Management Systems and LearningContent Management Systems?Weve been talking about SCORM-conformant courseware being compatible with a SCORM-

compliant LMS (Learning Management System) and you may be wondering, what is an LMS?And is that the same thing as an LCMS?

Learning Management Systems (LMSs) are software that automates the administration oftraining events. Different ones are on the market to meet most any organizations needs; theyrange in price from freeware to large million dollar installations. LMSs manage learner log-in,course catalogs, course completion ratios and progress status, scheduling, test scores, etc., andprovide reports on all of this to management. So once a course is built, an LMS is where you goto take it.


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This is different from a Learning Content Management System (LCMS). An LCMS is more of adatabase where multiple developers can create, store, reuse, manage and deliver learning content.

You are probably familiar with many of the slick e-learning development tools available outthere Flash, Dreamweaver, Authorware, Lectora, etc. Most LCMSs will produce less advancedcontent (i.e. dazzling) than you can do with these type tools. However, the value of an LCMS

lies in its ability to repurpose existing content. Since it contains an easily-accessible repository ofRLOs (reusable learning objects or SCOs, sharable content objects, to the SCORM world), anLCMS can really simplify course creation. And of course, you can always utilize Flash as anRLO to give your content some dazzle.

To put all of this together, a course developer would use an LCMS to create SCORM-conformant courseware that will be loaded onto an LMS for users to access the training.

Jay Lambert is CEO of Integrated Learning Services, Inc., an Atlanta-based consulting firmspecializing in workforce knowledge improvement projects such as web-based and instructor-ledtraining, and a broad range of user and technical documentation. Contact him [email protected] orwww.integratedlearningservices.com.

Sharable Content Object Reference ModelFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaJump to: navigation,search

This article needs additional citations forverification.Please helpimprove this articleby adding reliable references. Unsourced material may bechallengedandremoved. (April 2007)

Sharable Content Object Reference Model (SCORM) is a collection of standards andspecifications for web-based e-learning. It defines communications between client side contentand a host system called the run-time environment, which is commonly supported by alearningmanagement system. SCORM also defines how content may be packaged into a transferable ZIPfile called "Package Interchange Format".[1]

SCORM is a specification of the Advanced Distributed Learning(ADL) Initiative, which comesout of the Office of the United States Secretary of Defense.

SCORM 2004 introduced a complex idea called sequencing, which is a set of rules that specifiesthe order in which a learner may experience content objects. In simple terms, they constrain alearner to a fixed set of paths through the training material, permit the learner to "bookmark"

their progress when taking breaks, and assure the acceptability of test scores achieved by thelearner. The standard uses XML, and it is based on the results of work done by AICC, IMSGlobal, IEEE, and Ariadne.

Contents[hide]

1 Compliance
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2 SCORM versions

2.1 SCORM 1.1

2.2 SCORM 1.2

2.3 SCORM 2004

2.3.1 SCORM 2004 editions

2.3.2 SCORM 2004 specification books

3 SCORM timeline

4 References

5 See also

6 External links

6.1 Resources

6.2 ADL Co-Lab Network

[edit] ComplianceA testing initiative was started in 1996. In December 2003, the US Department of Defensemandated that all its e-learning purchases must comply with SCORM standards. By May 2010,ADL had validated 301 SCORM-certified products [2] while 329 products were compliant [3].

[edit] SCORM versions

[edit] SCORM 1.1

SCORM 1.1 is the first production version. It used a Course Structure Format XML file based onthe AICCspecifications to describe content structure, but lacked a robust packaging manifest and

support for metadata. Quickly abandoned in favor of SCORM 1.2.[edit] SCORM 1.2

This was the first version that was widely used. It is still widely used and is supported by mostLearning Management Systems today.

[edit] SCORM 2004

This is the current version. It is based on new standards for API and content object-to-runtimeenvironment communication, with many ambiguities of previous versions resolved. Includesability to specify adaptive sequencing of activities that use the content objects. Includes ability toshare and use information about success status for multiple learning objectives or competenciesacross content objects and across courses for the same learner within the same learning

management system. A more robust test suite helps ensure good interoperability.

[edit] SCORM 2004 editions

3rd Edition (October 2006) clarification of various conformance requirements and ofthe interaction between content objects and the runtime environment for sequencing;some new conformance requirements to improve interoperability.

4th Edition Released (March 31, 2009) more stringent interoperability requirements,more flexible data persistence.[4]
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[edit] SCORM 2004 specification books

Overview introduces SCORM and describes how the other books relate

Content Aggregation Model describes packaging of content and learning object

Run-Time Environment describes runtime API and data model used for

communication between content objects and learning management systems Sequencing and Navigation describes how sequencing between learning activities is

defined and interpreted

Compliance Requirements detailed list of the conformance requirements that areverified by the ADL SCORM conformance test suite.

[edit] SCORM timeline January 1999 Executive Order 13111signed tasking the DoDto develop common

specifications and standards for e-learning across both federal and private sectors

January 2000 SCORM Version 1.0

January 2001 SCORM Version 1.1

October 2001 SCORM Version 1.2

January 2004 SCORM 2004 (1st Edition)

July 2004 SCORM 2004 (2nd Edition)

June 2006 Department of Defense Instruction (DoDI) 1322.26 Requiring DoD Use ofSCORM

October 2006 SCORM 2004 (3rd Edition)

March 2009 SCORM 2004 (4th Edition)

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SCORM Explained

SCORM specifies that content should:

Be packaged in a ZIP file.

Be described in an XML file.

Communicate via JavaScript.

Sequence using rules in XML.

QUESTIONS ABOUT SCORM?Ask away! We are happy to help. No pressure, no hard sell, just friendly, informed advice.
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SCORM EngineCreating a SCORM LMS is a ton of work. Get help

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Business of SCORM |Technical SCORM | SCORM Resources | Glossary

Overview

SCORM is composed of three sub-specifications

The Content Packaging section specifies how content should be packaged

and described. It is based primarily on XML. The Run-Time section specifies how content should be launched and how it

communicates with the LMS. It is based primarily on ECMAScript (JavaScript).

The Sequencing section specifies how the learner can navigate betweenparts of the course (SCOs). It is defined by a set of rules and attributeswritten in XML.
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Related Articles:SCORM 2004 Overview for DevelopersSCORM 1.2 Overview for DevelopersVersions of SCORM

Content Packaging

SCORM specifies that content should be packaged in a self-contained directory or a ZIP file.This delivery is called a Package Interchange File (PIF). The PIF must always contain an XMLfile named imsmanifest.xml (the manifest file) at the root. The manifest file contains all theinformation the LMS needs to deliver the content. The manifest divides the course into one ormore parts called SCOs. SCOs can be combined into a tree structure that represents the course,known as the activity tree. The manifest contains an XML representation of the activity tree,information about how to launch each SCO and (optionally) metadata that describes the courseand its parts.

More information on Content Packaging

Run-Time

The run-time specification states that the LMS should launch content in a web browser, either ina new window or in a frameset. The LMS may only launch one SCO at a time. All content mustbe web deliverable and it is always launched in a web browser. Once the content is launched, ituses a well-defined algorithm to locate an ECMAScript (JavaScript) API that is provided by theLMS. This API has functions that permit the exchange of data with the LMS. The CMI datamodel provides a list of data elements (a vocabulary) that can be written to and read from theLMS. Some example data model elements include the status of the SCO (completed, passed,failed, etc), the score the learner achieved, a bookmark to track the learners location, and thetotal amount of time the learner spent in the SCO.

More information on the SCORM Run-time

Sequencing

The sequencing specification allows the content author to govern how the learner is allowed tonavigate between SCOs and how progress data is rolled up to the course level. Sequencing rulesare represented by XML within the courses manifest. Sequencing operates on a tracking modelthat closely parallels the CMI data reported by SCOs during run-time. Sequencing rules allowthe content author to do things like:

Determine which navigational controls the LMS should provide to the user(previous/next buttons, a navigable table of contents, etc).

Specify that certain activities must be completed before others(prerequisites).

Make some parts of a course count more than others toward a final status orscore (creating optional sections or providing question weighting).

Randomly select a different subset of available SCOs to be delivered on eachnew attempt (to enable test banking, for instance).

Take the user back to instructional material that was not mastered(remediation).

More information on Sequencing
http://scorm.com/scorm-explained/technical-scorm/scorm-2004-overview-for-developers/http://scorm.com/scorm-explained/technical-scorm/scorm-12-overview-for-developers/http://scorm.com/scorm-explained/business-of-scorm/scorm-versions/http://scorm.com/scorm-explained/technical-scorm/content-packaging/http://scorm.com/scorm-explained/technical-scorm/run-time/http://scorm.com/scorm-explained/technical-scorm/sequencing/http://scorm.com/scorm-explained/technical-scorm/scorm-2004-overview-for-developers/http://scorm.com/scorm-explained/technical-scorm/scorm-12-overview-for-developers/http://scorm.com/scorm-explained/business-of-scorm/scorm-versions/http://scorm.com/scorm-explained/technical-scorm/content-packaging/http://scorm.com/scorm-explained/technical-scorm/run-time/http://scorm.com/scorm-explained/technical-scorm/sequencing/


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Shareable Content Object Reference Model (SCORM) is anXML-based framework used todefine and access information about learning objects so they can be easily shared amongdifferent learning management systems (LMSs). SCORM was developed in response to a UnitedStates Department of Defense (DoD) initiative to promote standardization in e-learning.

The DoD had been frustrated by problems they encountered when trying to share distance

learning courses among different learning management systems used within the Department, soin 1997 they formed the Advanced Distributed Learning (ADL) specification group to create away to make learning content portable across various systems. ADL created the first version ofSCORM, which originally stood for Shareable Courseware Object Reference Model. It wasdesigned to facilitate moving course content and related information (such as student records)from one platform to another, to make course content into modular objects that can be reused inother courses, and to enable any LMS to search others for usable course content.

The SCORM specifications, which are distributed through the Advanced Distributed Learning(ADL) Initiative Network, define an XML-based means of representing course structures, anapplication programming interface (API), a content-to-LMS data model, a content launchspecification, and a specification for metadata records for all components of a system. The ADL

specification group's next challenge is to motivate vendors to comply with SCORMspecifications.
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