What in the World is SCORM?

What in the World is SCORM?

In our wonderful world of eLearning, SCORM is a term that is frequently used but seldom understood. In fact, the most common question we get is, “What is SCORM?” SCORM stands for Sharable Content Object Reference Model, and it is an eLearning standard that allows online learning courses to be compatible with different Learning Management Systems (LMS).

A Quick History of SCORM

SCORM was developed in 1999 by the Advanced Distributed Learning (ADL) Initiative, which is a part of the United States Department of Defense. The primary goal of SCORM was to create a set of technical specifications that would allow online learning courses to be developed and shared across different platforms.

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How Does SCORM Work:

The SCORM standard consists of three primary components: the Content Packaging, the Run-Time Environment, and the Sequencing and Navigation. Let's take a closer look at each of these components.

1. Content Packaging is the process of creating a package of eLearning content that can be uploaded to an LMS. This package includes all the necessary files, such as HTML, JavaScript, images, and multimedia files. The package also includes metadata that describes the content of the course. (Pro tip: don’t ever unzip a SCORM package after it’s published! Keeping all the files zipped is essential for your course to be able to properly communicate with the LMS.)
2. Run-Time Environment The Run-Time Environment is the software that runs on the learner's computer or device. This software is responsible for launching the eLearning course, tracking the learner's progress, and communicating with the LMS.
3. Sequencing and Navigation Sequencing and Navigation refer to the way in which the eLearning course is structured. SCORM specifies a set of rules for how content is presented to the learner and how the learner can navigate through the course.

Why SCORM?

One of the primary benefits of SCORM is that it allows eLearning content to be easily shared across different LMS platforms. This means that a course developed using SCORM can be uploaded to any LMS that supports the standard, without the need for any additional customization or development.

Another benefit of SCORM is that it allows for the tracking and reporting of learner progress. This means that trainers and instructors can monitor how learners are progressing through the course and identify areas where additional support may be needed.

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How Do Publish a course to SCORM?

For this tutorial, we’ll look at Articulate Storyline, a popular authoring tool for creating eLearning content (and the preferred authoring tool here at Allegro Media Design!) If you want to publish your Articulate Storyline project to SCORM, you can follow these instructions:

1. Open your Articulate Storyline project and click on the "Publish" button in the top navigation menu.
2. In the "Publish" window, select the "LMS" tab and choose "SCORM" from the drop-down menu.
3. In the "SCORM" settings, choose the version of SCORM that you want to publish to. Articulate Storyline supports SCORM 1.2, SCORM 2004, and Tin Can API (Pro tip: If you’re unsure which version your LMS prefers, SCORM 1.2 or 2004 are usually a pretty safe bet.)
4. Enter the course title, description, and other metadata in the "Properties" section.
5. In the "Reporting and Tracking" section, select the tracking options that you want to use. Articulate Storyline allows you to track learner progress using variables or using the built-in tracking features of your LMS.
6. Click on the "Publish" button to generate the SCORM package.
7. Once the SCORM package is generated, you can upload it to your LMS. Most LMS platforms have a dedicated area where you can upload SCORM packages.
8. Test your SCORM package in your LMS to make sure that it is working as expected. Check that the tracking and reporting features are working correctly and that the course content is displayed properly.

And that’s it! In conclusion, SCORM is an essential eLearning standard that allows online learning courses to be developed and shared across different platforms. By using SCORM, eLearning content creators can ensure that their courses are compatible with a wide range of LMS platforms and that learner progress can be easily tracked and reported.

Allegro Media Design

As more companies embrace a hybrid work model, the importance of accessible training from anywhere becomes that much more important. Our team at Allegro Media Design has extensive experience creating a range of eLearning courses that are effective and tailored to your company. If you’re interested in learning more about our custom courses, please contact us today!

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