Scorm, A Beginners Guide.

What is SCORM?- A beginners guide -

SCORM stands for... SCORM is an acronym for “Sharable Content Object

Reference Model”As the name implies, SCORM is a “Reference Model” for creating units

(SCO’s) of web based training that is able to be shared among other SCORM compliant Learning Management Systems, or Content

Delivery Systems. This enables course content to be reused in a variety of systems and

framework, allowing organizations involved in eLearning to change their vendors 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:

Did you know?SCORM is not the only standard in eLearning.

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.

The ADL created the first version of their “reference model”.

This first version of SCORM (v. 1.4) was introduced in January 2001.

SCORM Versions

SCORM 1.0 Version 1.0 was the initial specification meant as a

proof of concept. This version describes the concept of Sharable Content Objects (SCOs) and API model used to manage the communication between SCOS

and the run-time environment, as well as the how the run-time environment handles and processes the data

received by the content objects.

SCORM 1.1 This was the first production version of the SCORM

specification. It added an XML Schema based on the AICC specifications to describe course structure. This

version was limited and was quickly updated to SCORM v1.2.

SCORM 1.2 This was the first widely adopted version of the

SCORM specification. SCORM 1.2 incorporated the IMS Content Packaging, Sequencing and Metadata specifications. With the inclusion of Metadata

developers now had the option to tag their Content Objects as well as accompanying assets. The ADL also

introduced a run-time test suite and certification.

SCORM 2004 (1.4) This is the current version of the SCORM specification also referred to as

SCORM 2004.

Included in version 1.4: The ability to specify adaptive sequencing of content

objects New standards for API communication Sharing of competencies across content objects using

learning objectives

The current version/edition of SCORM is version 1.3.3

(SCORM 2004 3rd Edition)

SCORM 2004 Editions1st Edition (January 2004) – This version was altered to allow each book to be maintained independently.

Note: The ADL Technical Team no longer supports this edition.

2nd Edition (July 2004) – The second edition showed improvements to the web-based "Content Aggregation Model" and "Run-Time Environment" for instructional content, as well as improvements to SCORM specifications and standards. 3rd Edition (October 2006) – The third edition focused on the improvement of several aspects of SCORM, including but not limited to: Clarification of concepts and requirements, enhancements and bug fixes. 4th Edition (March 31, 2009) — This is the current version of SCORM and is a maintenance release dealing primarily with known defects in the previous versions. The ADL also added various enhancements to this version which resulted in increased interoperability across LMSs and more flexible persistence of data during sequencing experiences.

SCORM 2004 Specification BooksSCORM is a collection of specification and standards

that have been combined to create a set of 5 “technical books”.

Those books are as follows:

SCORM Overview:

This books gives an overview of the SCORM 2004 3rd edition documentation suite and describes

their relation to each other.

SCORM Content Aggregation Model:

(SCORM CAM) This book defines the technical methods involved in the process of creating and delivering eLearning content. Specifically, the

aggregation of electronic assets into a resource, and the organization of those resources to create a

defined sequence for delivery.

SCORM Run-Time Environment:

(SCORM RTE) This book describes the requirements needed for an LMS to manage the run-time environment. The RTE book also defines the

requirements of Sharable Content Objects and their use of the API and SCORM run-time environment.

SCORM Sequencing and Navigation:

(SCORM SN) This book defines how SCORM conformant content can be sequenced, how an LMS

interprets set sequencing rules and navigation requests. And how learner or system initiated

navigation requests are interpreted by the run-time environment

SCORM Conformance Requirements:

This book contains the conformance testing documents for organizations to perform self-testing

on LMSs, SCOs, Meta-data XML documents and Content Packages.

SCORM Conformance SCORM conformance is 3rd party testing that

provides consumers of elearning content and systems the assurance that certified products have

successfully implemented the SCORM specification. However, the ADL must perform the testing to be

officially certified.

SCORM Sub-SpecificationsSCORM is composed of three sub-specifications:

The 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.

Lets break that down!

Content Aggregation ModelThe SCORM Content Aggregation Model enables assets to be organized into learning resources,

describes those assets and delivers them in a pre-set sequence.

This promotes consistent storage, labeling, packaging, exchanging and discovery of content.

The Content Aggregation Model consistsmainly of three SCORM technologies:

1 - The Content Model2 - Metadata

3 - Content Packaging

1 - The Content Model

The Content Model describes the SCORM components that create a learning experience, and explains how

these components can be organized. Those components are: Assets, SCOs, and Content

Organization.

2 - Metadata

Meta-data is defined as data about data. For this purpose, meta-data is data that describes the nature and purpose of the package as a whole. One of the

benefits of meta-data is that it enables simple search and discovery which allows other developers easily to

find and reuse content. Meta-Data is based on the IEEE itsc – Learning Object Meta-Data (LOM)

Specification.

3 - Content PackagingThe content package is the collection of all files

required to run the content, specifically the manifest file and physical files. (the actual content, media,

assessment etc) Content Packages enable learning content to be exchanged

between systems or tools. According to SCORM specifications, the Content Packaging must be

packagedin a self contained package. This method of delivery

is called a Package Interchange File (PIF).

Run-Time EnvironmentIn order for SCORMS goal of creating reusable

learning resources that are interoperable across multiple LMSs to be realized, they had to find a

common way to start these learning resources, a mechanism to allow them to communicate with an

LMS and predefined data elements that are exchanged between the content and the LMS. This is the responsibility of the Run-Time Environment which

is based primarily on the following three SCORM technologies: 1 - Launch

2 - Application Program Interface (API) 3 - Data Model.

1 - Launch

The Launch Mechanism defines a common way for the LMS to launch Web-based learning resources. Launch also defines the procedures and responsibilities for establishing communication between the launched

learning resource and the LMS. ( this varies depending on the launched resources type) The

communication protocols are standardized through the use of a common API.

2 - Application Program Interface

The API is the standardized communication mechanism that allows the LMS to communicate with SCOs. This is done through an ECMAScript (JavaScript)

API provided by the LMS, and is the only way for communication to occur. The API is also responsible for the retrieving and setting of data such as score,

time limits and occurring errors.

3 - Data Model

The Data Model is a set of preconfigured elements that can be used to track information on a learners experience with a SCO, and how an LMS interrupts that information. –this is the predefined “language” that forms the basis of communication through the

API.

Sequencing and Navigation

SCORM Sequencing and Navigation defines how learning content can be sequenced through a set of

learner-initiated or system-initiated navigation events, and the behavior and functionality that an LMS must

implement in order to process sequencing information at run-time.

1 - Sequencing

SCORM Sequencing is based primarily on the concept of the Activity Tree. A SCORM conformant LMS

translates the Content Organization into an activity tree, each item indicated in the content organization

corresponds to a learning activity. Rules for sequencing can be attached to each activity by the content developer to determine how an LMS should

sequence the activity.

2 - NavigationSCORM Navigation defines how learning and system

initiated navigation events are triggered and processed, resulting in the identification of learning activities for delivery. Navigation is the process by

which a learner and LMS cooperate to identify navigation requests in order to to realize a

learning experience.

Stay tuned to

for an extensive SCORM section coming soon!