SCORM: A Quick Guide. What is SCORM? An introduction to Sharable Content Object Reference Model (SCORM); the standards and specifications for web-based e-learning.

1. SCORM: The Quick Guide
By Alan Boyd
www.aurionlearning.com

2. • What is SCORM?
• Why SCORM?
• How does it Work?
• What does SCORM do?
• What does SCORM not do?
• Common issues/Considerations

3. What is SCORM?
SCORM content will run on
any learning management
system (LMS) that is SCORM
compliant
SCORM = SCORM modules can
Sharable Content be reassembled &
Object Reference used as components
Model for new programmes

4. Reusing SCORM Modules
Diversity E-learning Course for Client 1
Module 1: UK Legislation 1
Module 2: UK Legislation 2
Module 3: Specific to Client
Diversity E-learning Course for Client 3
Module 1: UK Legislation 1
Module 2: NI Legislation
Module 3: Specific to Client
Diversity E-learning Course for Client 2
Module 1: UK Legislation 1
Module 2: NI Legislation
Module 3: Specific to Client

5. How does it Work?
Initialise >>>>>>
Sharable Content Learning
Object (SCO)
Started >>>>>> Management System
Completed >>
Terminate >>>>
* Other functions such as Score and Suspend Data

6. What does SCORM do?
• Allows the Learning Module to send information to the LMS
about itself such as
– Status (Not Started, Incomplete, Completed)
– Score
– Suspend Data
• Says that this some of this data must be stored and made
available again
• Says that the LMS must provide some information to the
Learning Module such as the user’s name

7. What does SCORM not do?
• User accounts
• Reports
• Certificates
• Communication between users
• Say how a programme should look
• Say how a programme should launch
• Say how a programme should exit

8. Common SCORM Issues
Case sensitive
Size of Self-
SCO contained
package
Common SCORM
Delivering & Issues
updating
Setting
SCORM
Completion
packages References to
LMS or LMS
functions

9. Case Sensitive
A file in the html folder is linking to the PowerPoint – only one of these will work
•<a href="mod-resources/nationalasthmaprogramme-HSElanD.ppt" target="_blank">Power Point</a>
•<a href="mod-resources/NationalAsthmaProgramme-HSElanD.ppt" target="_blank">PowerPoint</a>
•<a href="mod-Resources/NationalAsthmaProgramme-HSElanD.ppt" target="_blank">PowerPoint</a>
•<a href="mod-resources/NationalAsthmaProgramme-HSEland.PPT" target="_blank">PowerPoint</a>

10. Self Contained Package
• In this scenario, each topic is saved as a separate SCO.
• The files in common images are shared between all topics
• This won’t work because when you SCORM package the topics it will
only include the files inside each folder. The common images won’t be
included.

11. References to LMS / LMS Functions
* Don’t include exit button in the SCO. This is an LMS function.

12. References to LMS or LMS Functions
• In this scenario, the author has tried to include a link to Section 2 of the
e-learning programme. To move to section 2 please click here.
• Section 2 is a different SCO. Don’t try to link one SCO to another.
• Use the LMS to launch SCOs.

13. Setting Completion
• Completion Criteria should be considered during ID
• Completion criteria should be simple
• User should be informed what the completion criteria are

14. Size of SCO
• Make a decision about how you want to break your learning
programme into SCOs. (For example, your SCO could be the
entire e-learning programme, one topic/module, and or one
individual page .
• Important because:
– LMS should set completion for the entire programme not
just separate topics/modules
– LMS will be expected to produce reports on who has
completed the entire programme

15. Delivering SCORM Packages
• Manifest file is added.
• Package is zipped with manifest file in root

16. Updating SCORM packages
• Depends on LMS
• Might be necessary to delete the programme and upload
again.

17. www.aurionlearning.com