SCORM - Sharable Content Object Reference Model
What is SCORM?
The Sharable Content Object Reference Model (SCORM) is a "reference model" - a set of guidelines on how to use other standards in a particular context. It consists of a collection of specifications adapted from multiple sources. These have been refined and integrated and provide a comprehensive suite of e-learning capabilities that enable interoperability, accessibility and reusability of Web-based learning content.
Because of the widespread interest in these capabilities, SCORM is becoming a defacto standard, and its developer, Advanced Distributed Learning (ADL), is seeking to extend the stewardship of SCORM more broadly. An Australian Advanced Distributed Learning Partnership Laboratory was established in 2005.
In order to achieve portability of learning content, SCORM provides specifications for both content developers and the developers of e-learning tools, such as Learning Management Systems (LMS).
The SCORM consists of a suite of specifications including:
- Specifications relating to the run time environment - how the content interacts with the Learning Management System (LMS).
- Specifications for representing course structures or content aggregation - including the IMS Content Packaging specification.
- Specifications for creating metadata records for courses, content and raw media elements, based on the IEEE LOM.
- Specifications for separating sequencing and navigation rules and behaviours from content.
Evolution of SCORM
SCORM 1.2 was released in 2001 as a stable platform after trials and adjustments to versions 1.0 and 1.1.
SCORM 2004 was released in January 2004 as a suite of distinct specifications. Because of the complexity and volume of documentation, it is envisaged that each specification (now version 1.3) will now be maintained individually.
SCORM 2004 also incorporated the additional specification, Simple Sequencing, that separates sequencing and navigation rules and behaviours from content.
Using SCORM in the training sector
Following the 2003 report of the Learning Object Repository Project and some trials of SCORM usage, the series 7, 8, and 9 Toolbox developers have used the SCORM specifications.
These projects are using the SCORM 1.2 specification (http://www.adlnet.gov/scorm/history/Scorm12/index.aspx) because the most commonly used Learning Management Systems in the VET sector do not yet support SCORM 2004. Conformance to this standard is tested using the SCORM version 1.2 Conformance Test Suite, version 1.2.7
The existence of conformance tests and tools for editing metadata and content packaging files is one of the advantages of using the SCORM suite of specifications.
Balancing this, there are some problems in adapting a model developed for single-user, self-paced learning, to pedagogical models that are collaborative and problem-based.
These issues are addressed in the “Potential Benefits and Challenges in the use of SCORM in VET”.
The 'Potential Benefits and Challenges in the use of SCORM in VET' is available in Word (1.24MB).
