SCORM stands for Sharable Content Object Reference Model.

It’s a widely adopted and internationally recognised standard for tracking progress in online learning. It was first developed by ADL in the United States in 1999. The current release is SCORM 2004, though most large LMS vendors currently conform for to SCORM 1.2.

At the BBC, back in 2003, we developed our LMS, which was based on our philosophy of “learner-centred design”, to conform with SCORM.

For SCORM to work you need two components:

1. A SCORM-conformant learning management system (LMS)
2. SCORM-conformant content (based on sharable content objects, or SCOs) such as an online course or quiz

The term “conformant” is used instead of “compliance” for pragmatic reasons.

SCORM uses XML and a javascript wrapper (or API) to let the learning content communicate with the LMS.

Depending on the instructional design of your learning content, typically you might want to log certain information including:

• the completion of a section, page, video or simulation – this can then be used if the learner resumes at a later date to avoid having to re-start from the beginning
• a score that the learner has achieved, and the answers submitted in a quiz

A few sites and resources I’ve found useful on my e-learning travels:

• The SCORM homepage on ADL (Advanced Distributed Learning), includes all the specs and a downloadable conformance test suite
• SCORM definition on Wikipedia
• Rustici (pronounce the ending like the ending of “ecstasy”) Software – a really useful set of SCORM primers
• Rustici Test Track – a free web service to which you can upload and run your learning content to test it’s SCORM-conformance
• Popular sites bookmarked in delicious tagged “SCORM”
• YouTube video: The essence of SCORM in 30 seconds – you have to read this quite quickly