SCORM is an important standard as it enables effective eLearning content development, integration with LMS platforms, content sharing, tracking learner progress, and future adaptability in the evolving e-learning landscape. In this blog, we cover the basics and answer common questions about this popular technical standard.
Key takeaways
- SCORM is a standardized framework for packaging e‑learning content into reusable “content objects.”
- A SCORM-compliant package is a ZIP file that includes HTML, multimedia assets, metadata, XML manifests, and JavaScript API wrappers. These bundles contain everything needed to deploy courses in an LMS
- When learners launch a SCORM course, the API wrapper within the package enables real-time communication: tracking progress, scores, completion status, and more, then relaying this data back to the LMS when the session ends
- SCORM allows L&D teams to monitor learner interactions (e.g., completion, time spent, quiz performance) and supports modular reuse so that content objects can be assembled into different courses
- SCORM 1.2 is the most commonly used version, easy to implement but limited—it tracks only a single status and doesn’t separate pass/fail from course completion.
- SCORM 2004 (3rd Edition) offers advanced features like bookmarking, complex navigation, distinct completion and success statuses, and better interaction tracking
- SCORM lacks built-in security and doesn’t support advanced tracking features, such as mobile or offline progress. Newer standards like xAPI and CMI5 offer enhanced analytics, greater flexibility, and support for varied learning experiences, but SCORM remains the industry foundation.
What is SCORM?
SCORM stands for Sharable Content Object Reference Model and provides a framework for creating e-learning content that can be easily shared across different learning management systems (LMS) without requiring significant modifications or customizations.
Compliant content consists of “content objects” that are self-contained and reusable learning units. These objects can be combined to create courses or learning modules. SCORM specifies how these objects are packaged and delivered and how they communicate with the LMS.
What is a SCORM package?
A SCORM package (also known as SCORM file) is a structured collection of files and resources that conform to specifications and contain all the necessary components for delivering e-learning content within a compliant learning management system (LMS). It typically comes in the form of a compressed zip file (.zip) that contains the following elements:
- Content files, including e-learning content files, such as HTML, multimedia assets (images, videos, audio), documents, or other digital resources, make up the instructional content that learners will interact with during their learning experience.
- Metadata that provides information about the content, such as the title, description, author, keywords, and other relevant details. This data helps organize, search, and identify the content within the LMS.
- Structure and navigation information, including XML-based files, describe the organization and sequencing of learning objects or modules within the package.
- The JavaScript-based API wrapper file bridges the content and the runtime environment (SCORM Player), allowing the content to send and receive data using the API.
- Other supporting files, such as scripting files, assessment files, configuration files, or any other resources needed for the content to function correctly within the environment.
The SCORM package can be imported or uploaded into a compliant LMS, which extracts and deploys the content, launches the runtime environment, and establishes communication with the content using the API. The self-contained nature of packages allows for easy distribution, sharing, and reuse of e-learning content across different compatible systems and platforms, ensuring interoperability and consistent delivery of instructional materials.
How SCORM works
SCORM works through interactions between the e-learning content, the runtime environment (or SCORM Player), and the LMS. The e-learning content is organized and bundled into a compliant package, which the learner accesses through the LMS.
When the content is launched, the package is extracted, and the runtime environment is loaded. The SCORM Player initializes and establishes communication with the LMS using the API. The content sends requests to the API, and the LMS responds to these requests and stores or processes the data accordingly.
As the learner interacts with the content, the SCORM Player tracks and records data such as completion status, time spent, scores, and learner interactions, which is sent to the LMS to track and record the learner’s progress.
When the learner completes the content or exits the content session, the SCORM Player sends the necessary data to the LMS and closes the communication session. The LMS can then update the learner’s progress and completion status accordingly.
Why SCORM is important
SCORM plays a crucial role in ensuring compatibility, reusability, and effective tracking of e-learning content. It allows organizations to create, manage, and deliver e-learning materials in a standardized and interoperable manner, providing a consistent learning experience for learners across different platforms and systems.
Compliant content can be seamlessly integrated across learning management systems (LMS) without requiring extensive modifications or customizations. It allows organizations to choose different content vendors or create content while maintaining compatibility with their chosen LMS.
SCORM also reduces the time and effort required to develop new content from scratch. Content developers can create and store compliant content objects in a repository, making adding, replacing, reposing, and assembling components into different learning experiences easier. This reusability also allows organizations to mix and match content from different vendors or sources, contributing to cost savings through efficient content management.
Regarding tracking and reporting, SCORM includes specifications for tracking learner progress and recording data such as completion status, scores, and interactions. This data is valuable for assessment, certification, compliance, and performance evaluation. It also ensures consistency in tracking capabilities across different e-learning systems.
Which SCORM version should I use?
There are technically five versions but SCORM 1.2 and SCORM 2004 3rd Edition are the most widely used versions. SCORM 1.2 is the most popular standard and is supported by most authoring tools and LMS’. Since it has a small set of specifications, it’s simpler for developers to implement and there are fewer interoperability issues between software brands.
However, SCORM 1.2 can only be used with web content and is unsuited for tracking long training modules. If your training module has many interactions and screens, learners must complete the entire course in one sitting.
It also can’t track screen views and quiz results simultaneously, which means success and completion can’t be tracked simultaneously. Since you can only have one status at a time (passed, completed, failed, incomplete, or browsed), you can’t have cases where someone completed a course but failed the quizzes.
Finally, since there is no variable to store interaction text, when you check quiz results in the LMS, you will see the learner’s response but will not have the question text.
With SCORM 2004 3rd Edition, content creators can build longer courses with more complicated navigations and interactions. It also has two lesson statuses – ‘completion_status’ (completed/incomplete) and ‘success_status’ (passed/failed). This allows instructors to determine whether the learner had gotten through the entire lesson (completed) but not passed the quiz (failed), which is not possible with the 1.2 version.
What is SCORM compliance?
SCORM compliance refers to the adherence of e-learning content, tools, or systems to the technical specifications and standards outlined by SCORM specifications. For example, if an e-learning content package is SCORM-compliant, it follows the packaging format, communication protocols, and data tracking specifications specified. This allows the content package to be easily imported, launched, and tracked within a compliant LMS without requiring significant modifications.
However, SCORM compliance is not an all-or-nothing concept. It can vary based on the specific version and features implemented.
Security features
SCORM itself does not have specific built-in security features. Instead, the security of SCORM content and the data exchanged between the content and the LMS relies on implementing security measures at the system level. This includes:
- Using secure transport protocols such as HTTPS (HTTP over SSL/TLS) to encrypt data transmission, protecting it from interception and unauthorized access.
- Ensuring that only authorized users can access the SCORM content by using user authentication such as username and password, single sign-on (SSO), or other authentication protocols.
- Implementing access controls within the LMS to prevent unauthorized access to the content files including user authentication, role-based access controls (RBAC), or content encryption techniques.
- Ensuring the underlying infrastructure, including servers and databases, follows secure practices including regular security updates, secure configurations, intrusion detection systems, and firewalls.
- Conducting periodic vulnerability assessments and penetration testing on the LMS infrastructure to identify and address potential security vulnerabilities or weaknesses.
What are some other eLearning standards?
While SCORM has been the dominant standard in the e-learning industry for many years, there are newer standards and specifications emerging that aim to address some of SCORM’s limitations and adapt to evolving technologies and learning needs. Two notable standards that are often considered as potential successors to SCORM are Experience API (xAPI) or Tin Can API and CMI5 (Computer Managed Instructional Content).
xAPI is an e-learning specification developed by the Advanced Distributed Learning (ADL) initiative and enables the collection of a wide range of learning activities and interactions, including online and offline activities, simulations, social learning, mobile learning, and more. It uses a flexible statement-based format (referred to as “statements” or “verbs”) to record learning experiences and store them in a Learning Record Store (LRS). xAPI offers enhanced tracking, analytics, and interoperability capabilities compared to SCORM.
CMI5 builds on xAPI and provides a bridge between the benefits of xAPI’s activity tracking and reporting capabilities and the need for structured course-based content delivery. It combines the flexibility of xAPI with a predefined structure for launching and managing e-learning courses in a more traditional format.
Both xAPI and CMI5 offer advantages over SCORM in terms of flexibility, adaptability, and tracking capabilities. They support a broader range of learning experiences, including offline and mobile learning, real-world activities, and non-linear learning paths. However, SCORM is a well embedded framework and complete replacement of SCORM will likely take time.
FAQs
What does SCORM stand for?
SCORM stands for Sharable Content Object Reference Model.
It is a set of technical standards for eLearning software products. SCORM instructs developers on how to create digital learning content that can be easily shared across various Learning Management Systems (LMS). Essentially, it ensures that content is interoperable, reusable, and trackable within any SCORM-compliant platform.
What is a SCORM file?
A SCORM file (also known as a SCORM package) is a packaged eLearning module that follows the SCORM standards. It’s typically delivered as a .zip file that contains everything needed for an LMS to launch, deliver, and track the learning experience.
A SCORM file usually includes:
HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and media files (for the course content)
A manifest file (
imsmanifest.xml) that defines the structure and metadata of the courseSCORM JavaScript API calls that enable communication between the course and the LMS (e.g., to track progress, scores, completion)
Training departments, educators, and instructional designers use SCORM files to distribute eLearning courses that need to be tracked for compliance, certification, or progress monitoring.
How to create SCORM content?
The first step in creating SCORM content is to design your course material. This includes defining learning objectives, organizing the structure (modules, lessons, quizzes), and deciding on the type of media and interactivity you’ll include. The content can include videos, animations, audio narrations, quizzes, drag-and-drop exercises, and more. Instructional design principles should guide this process to ensure the learning experience is engaging, clear, and pedagogically sound.
Once your course design is ready, you’ll use an authoring tool to build the course. Popular tools like LEAi allow you to create interactive eLearning content without needing advanced programming skills. These tools come with built-in support for SCORM packaging, so as you build your content, the software will handle the SCORM API integrations needed for LMS communication (like tracking completion, scoring, or time spent).
After building the content, you’ll publish or export it as a SCORM package—usually as a .zip file. During this step, you’ll choose the SCORM version (e.g., SCORM 1.2 or SCORM 2004) based on the compatibility requirements of your target LMS. The exported package will include all course files and a manifest file (imsmanifest.xml), which tells the LMS how to organize and launch the course.
Finally, you’ll want to test your SCORM package to ensure it works properly in an LMS environment. Tools like SCORM Cloud allow you to upload and test your content before deploying it in a live LMS. This helps you identify any tracking or playback issues and confirm that progress and completion data are being reported correctly. Once tested and approved, the SCORM package can be uploaded to your organization’s LMS, where it can be assigned to learners and tracked.
How to create SCORM file with LEAi
We’ve heard this question often; fortunately, our course authoring software LEAi supports this! LEAi can produce SCORM 1.2, SCORM 2004, and other eLearning standards mentioned in this blog (CMI5 and xAPI). You load your content, add any generative AI elements LEAi provides, and then export it to one of the versions.
If you are looking to create eLearning courses, contact us today, and we will help you create them quickly!
