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SCORM Terminology
| ADL | Advanced Distributed Learning Initiative ADL employs a structured, adaptive, collaborative effort between the public and private sectors to develop the standards, tools and learning content for the learning environment of the future. The ADL website can be found at www.adlnet.org. |
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| Asset A basic learning object (content pacakge resource) that can be delivered to a web client. See also: Resource | |
| CAM | Content Aggregation Model Provides a common means for composing learning content from discoverable, reusable, sharable, and interoperable sources. |
| Content Package A ZIP file containing SCORM resources and described by an imsmanifest.xml file. A SCORM conformant content package can be deployed to any SCORM conformant LMS for consistent delivery to a learner. See also: imsmanifest.xml, LMS, PIF, Resource | |
| IDE | Integrated Development Environment An integrated software tool-set for developers. |
| imsmanifest.xml An XML manifest file that is included with and describes a SCORM content package. See also: Content Package | |
| LOM | Learning Object Metadata XML Metadata for describing learning objects in a content package. See also: Metadata |
| LMS | Learning Management System A suite of functionality designed to deliver, track, report on and manage learning content, learner progress and interactions. The term "LMS" can apply to very simple course management systems, or highly complex enterprise-wide distributed environments. |
| Metadata Metadata means "data about data". Metadata provides a common nomenclature enabling learning resources to be described in a common way. It can be collected in catalogs, as well as directly packaged within the learning resources it describes. Learning resources that are described with metadata can be systematically searched for and retrieved for use and reuse. See also: LOM | |
| PIF | Package Interchange File A content package ZIP file. See also: Content Package |
| Resource A learning object in a content package. A resource is represented by a single launchable file and all of its file dependencies. See also: Asset, SCO | |
| RTE | Run-Time Enivornment Provides a means for interoperability between SCO-based learning content and an LMS. A run-time API, implemented by the LMS, is provided to a launched SCO by the LMS for getting and setting run-time data. See also: LMS, SCO |
| SCO | Shareable Content Object A learning object (content package resource) that when launched communicates with the learning management system via the SCORM Run-Time Environment (RTE) API. A SCO represents the lowest level of granularity of learning resources that can be tracked by an LMS using the SCORM RTE. See also: Asset, LMS, RTE |
| SCORM | Shareable Content Object Reference Model A compilation of technical specifications that enable interoperability, accessibility and reusability of Web-based learning content. SCORM defines a web-based learning Content Aggregation Model and Run-Time Environment for learning objects. At its simplest, it is a model that references a set of interrelated technical specifications and guidelines designed to meet the Department of Defense's high-level requirements for e-learning content. |
| SN | Sequencing and Navigation Rules that an LMS must follow in order to present a specific learning experience. The content developer is responsible for defining the rules to which an LMS must adhere. These rules are expressed within the organization section of a content package' manifest file. See also: Content Package, LMS |
SCORM Conformance
One of the primary purposes of the SCORM standards is to define interoperability between learning content and learning management systems. Through SCORM conformance, content packages and learning managements systems together acheive such interoperability.
A SCORM-conformant content package can be delivered via SCORM-conformant learning management systems and SCORM-conformant learning management systems can deliver SCORM-conformant content packages.
The ADL is responsible for officially certifying SCORM content packages and products, such as learning management systems and authoring tools, as conformant. However, the ADL does provide conformance test suites from their website that can be used to validate SCORM content packages and software within your organization. The ADL must perform conformance testing to be officially certified.
SCORM Adopter Partner
The ADL's SCORM Adopters program includes organizations that practice the implementation of SCORM specifications through the design and development of products and services that meet SCORM conformance guidelines.
SCORM Overview
SCORM, or Shareable Content Object Reference Model, is a compilation of technical specifications for web-based e-learning. The SCORM standards are governed and published by the Advanced Distributed Learning Initiative (ADL).
Among SCORM goals are to enable interoperability, accessibility and reusability of web-based learning content for industry, government, and academia.
SCORM Versions
SCORM 1.0
The original version of SCORM, version 1.0, was a proof of concept only. It introduced the notion of Sharable Content Objects (SCOs) and the API model in which the burden of managing communication across the Internet is handled by the run-time environment, not by the content objects.
SCORM 1.1
The first production version of SCORM was version 1.1. It used a Course Structure Format XML file based on the AICC specifications to describe content structure, but lacked a robust packaging manifest and support for metadata. Version 1.1 was quickly replaced by SCORM 1.2.
SCORM 1.2
SCORM 1.2 was the first version with a real conformance test in the form of a test suite. It uses the IMS Content Packaging specification with full content manifest and support for metadata describing the course. Also allows optional detailed metadata tagging of the content objects and assets described in the manifest. Version 1.2 is no longer maintained or supported by ADL.
SCORM 2004 (1.3)
The current version of SCORM is version 1.3, also known as SCORM 2004. It includes the ability to specify adaptive sequencing of activities that use the content objects, new standards for API communication, and resolves many ambiguities. SCORM 2004 also includes the ability to share and use information about success status for multiple learning objectives or competencies across content objects and across courses for the same learner within the same learning management system.
The current version/edition of SCORM is version 1.3.3 (SCORM 2004 3rd Edition).
- SCORM 2004 Editions
- 1st Edition (January 2004) - versioning changed so each book could be independently maintained
- 2nd Edition (July 2004) - included improvements regarding Content Aggregation Model and Run-Time Environment
- 3rd Edition (October 2006) - clarified various conformance requirements and of the interaction between content objects and the runtime environment for sequencing; added new conformance requirements to improve interoperability
SCORM 2004 Books
The SCORM 2004 standard consists primarily of five books, including an overview book, detailing SCORM conformance. Those books are: SCORM Overview, SCORM Content Aggregation Model, SCORM Sequencing and Navigation, SCORM Run-Time Environment, and SCORM Conformance Requirements. They are available for download in PDF from the ADL website.
The SCORM Overview book introduces SCORM and describes how the other books relate.
The SCORM Content Aggregation Model (CAM) book pertains to content packages. It describes how SCORM content packages are structured and described. The imsmanifest.xml file is the primary file describing a package, its structure, metadata, and sequencing information.
The SCORM Run-Time Environment (RTE) book describes how a learning management system (LMS) deploys and delivers content packages. This includes describing the SCORM runtime API a SCO uses to communicates with the runtime data model that a LMS uses to keep information regarding a learner's experience with a content object.
The SCORM Sequencing and Navgiation (SN) book describes how content packages declare sequencing between activities, how learners can issue navigation requests, and how those requests are interpreted by a SCORM run-time environment.
The SCORM Conformance Requirements book details the conformance requirements that are verified by the ADL SCORM conformance test suite.
Collectively these books total over one-thousand pages and detail the SCORM standard in its entirety.