Well, I definitely got my geek flag flying for this one!
Why turn to SCORM?
The idea is to make software and systems like Learning Management Systems (LMS) play well together.
If your content complies with SCORM, it can be used on any SCORM-compliant LMS, and any SCORM-compliant LMS can run SCORM-compliant content. If that sounds confusing, here’s an analogy:
You can play a DVD in any DVD player because the DVD content uses a set of standards, so you don’t need a Toshiba-formatted DVD to play on a Toshiba player, or a Sony-formatted DVD to play on a Sony player, and so on. Same applies to SCORM content and management systems.
Some advantages of SCORM:
- Publish once, play everywhere
- More places to play the content, and longer life for the content contribute to better returns on investment
- SCORM metadata makes it practical to build catalogs of content, regardless of the source
- Content may be obtained without being tied to a single content provider or authoring tool
- Content from multiple sources may be mixed and matched without technical incompatibility issues.
The Tin Can Application Programming Interface
Tin Can API was the next-generation of SCORM, and is now called the Experience API (xAPI).
The xAPI takes learning out of a LMS, out of a browser, out of the usual sort of learn/test environments, and instead is modeled after this statement:
[actor] [verb] [object]
Click the graphic below to open the page showing the chronological development of SCORM standards, and the next-generation SCORM standards, xAPI.
* And yes, that reference to the public learning about SCORM in 2000 is a book I wrote! *
September 17, 2017
Hi Donna!
First of all, I want to say that I really love the presentation of your blog! It looks so professional! I really need to take some time to figure mine out (as this is the first course we have been given a blog), but right now, I’m just trying to keep up with course work!
Secondly, I found the SCORM intro and timeline very informative. I am new to elearning and I really enjoyed having SCORM and xAPI put into context (as I’m finding sometimes words get bandied about without explanation).
Thanks for the interesting post and never worry about letting the geek flag fly (I think we all love learning which is why we’re here!)
Looking forward to seeing more,
Lorri
September 17, 2017
Hi Lorri –
Nice to ‘meet’ you! There are so very many terms involved in learning technology, and new ones arrive every day. I don’t know that anyone can keep up with all of it, but it is important to understand the basics of many technologies, and SCORM/xAPI is definitely one of them.
I’m pleased to read you found it informative. I did, too, and I was already familiar with the technology. Being forced to succinctly quantify/qualify a lot of information makes the most important ideas float to the top.
And thanks for the compliment. I should tell you that I’ve been a graphic designer for about 20 years, so my work should show a certain level of professionalism 😉