In this blog, team member Pru explains what SCORM is and what it means. This blog will also explain why SCORM is important and why it is commonly used for LMS compatibility. SCORM ability to communicate with LMS is perfect for elearning courses.
What is SCORM?
SCORM or Sharable Content Object Reference Model makes sure that elearning content can be shared with well established learning management systems (LMSs) like Moodle.
SCORM was developed in the year 2000 by a US Department of Defense organization called ADL. It is now widely adopted and is the industry standard.
It is a technical standard that allows learning content to work seamlessly with various LMSs.
Just like how the EU introduced a universal charging solution for phones and small electronic devices, SCORM does the same for elearning by allowing content to be used across the most commonly used learning platforms.
This means that learning content developers can create a course and sell it into several organisations without having to reformat their content for each customer. Inversely, it benefits organisations because they can purchase content from several suppliers safe in the knowledge that if it’s SCORM compatible, it will work on their LMS.
Keeping track of progress
SCORM also ensures that an LMS can import, launch and track content. Being able to see and track a learner’s progress is crucially important for learning designers because it allows them to monitor and improve their training offer. SCORM courses can provide activity reports for each SCORM object (the bit of learning) and user (the learner), for example, Learner X has completed Learning 1 or Learner Y has completed Learning 2 and passed.
Still relevant?
SCORM has often been criticised for producing boring elearning content. Content standardisation has resulted in several read and click, PowerPoint style learning courses leaving learners unengaged and learning designers uninspired.
But it’s a well entrenched standard in the learning world and many organisations have invested heavily in SCORM compliant learning content and systems that still offer value. Unless they want to reinvest in a new LMS and new suite of learning materials, it looks like SCORM will be the standard for a while yet.
The best of both worlds
Near-Life’s SCORM compatible interactive video learning experiences mean that SCORM learning doesn’t have to be boring. With Near-Life you get the best of both worlds… the ability to create immersive, engaging content that is publishable on several learning management systems. Find out how to embed a Near-Life interactive video in a SCORM course.