In an increasingly connected and digital world, e-learning has taken pride of place due to its ability to adapt to individual needs and its broad accessibility. Learners can now access learning content from anywhere and at any time thanks to solutions such as e-learning platforms with online courses. However, in order to ensure a consistent and interactive experience, a standard is needed that allows compatibility between different LMS platforms such as Docebo. This standard is SCORM.
What is a SCORM?
SCORM, which stands for ‘Sharable Content Object Reference Model’, is an e-learning standard technology developed to facilitate the creation, distribution and management of online learning content. It was created by the Advanced Distributed Learning (ADL) Initiative, with the aim of improving interoperability between different online learning platforms and systems.
How does a SCORM work
A SCORM is based on a modular approach, in which educational content is divided into ‘shareable content objects’ (SCO). These SCOs are small learning units, such as pages of text, images, videos, quizzes and interactive activities.
The core of a SCORM consists of two main parts: the ‘Content Aggregation Model’ (CAM) and the ‘Run-Time Environment’ (RTE). The CAM defines the structure of the content and how the SCOs are organized, while the RTE handles the execution of the interactive content, recording the learner’s interaction with the content.
Advantages of SCORM
Interoperability: A SCORM allows content to run on different platforms and Learning Management Systems (LMS), ensuring a consistent experience for learners, regardless of the system used.
Monitoring and Evaluation: SCORM’s RTE records learners’ interactions with the content, allowing tutors and platform admins to monitor progress and evaluate performance.
Content Reuse: Thanks to the modularity of SCORM, content can be easily reused and updated, enabling efficient development and maintenance of online courses.
Future Developments
SCORM has played a crucial role in the development and deployment of e-learning, ensuring interoperability and consistency of online content but, despite these benefits, it has some limitations as well (e.g. it is not optimized for learning with advanced personalisation). Because of these limitations, the need has arisen for more modern and flexible standards, such as xAPI (Experience API) and cmi5, which attempt to overcome these challenges and new ones.
