E-learning
What SCORM is and which version to choose
SCORM is the standard that lets an e-learning course run in different learning management systems. The course is a ZIP file described by imsmanifest.xml: you upload it to your LMS and the course reports completion, score and time spent. The versions you will usually meet are SCORM 1.2 and SCORM 2004.
SCORM in three sentences
- The course is packed into a ZIP file. Its root folder must contain imsmanifest.xml, which describes what is inside and how to launch it.
- You upload the ZIP to your LMS (Moodle, for example) like any other course and assign it to people.
- While people learn, the course talks to the LMS: it records whether the learner finished, passed, what the score was and how long they spent.
SCORM 1.2 or SCORM 2004
| SCORM 1.2 | SCORM 2004 | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2001 | 2004, fourth edition in 2009 |
| Course status | one field: cmi.core.lesson_status (for example passed, completed, failed, incomplete) |
two fields: cmi.completion_status (finished or not) and cmi.success_status (passed or not) |
| Score | cmi.core.score.raw |
cmi.score.raw and cmi.score.scaled (from −1 to 1) |
| Session time | cmi.core.session_time |
cmi.session_time |
| Where it works | almost every LMS | most modern LMSs |
The simple rule: pick the version your LMS supports best. If you want to see “finished” and “passed” separately, choose SCORM 2004.
And what is LTI
LTI (Learning Tools Interoperability) solves a different problem. Instead of uploading a package, the LMS opens a course hosted by the provider and signs the learner in. LTI 1.3 was released by 1EdTech (formerly IMS Global) in 2019. It is built on OAuth 2.0, OpenID Connect and signed JWT tokens.
What to check when buying a SCORM course
- Who keeps the content current. When the rules change, do you get a new package or does the course update itself?
- What the course reports. Does the LMS get the test score or only “completed”?
- Phones. Does the course work on a phone inside your LMS, not only on a computer?
- Interaction. Are there tasks in the package, or only slides to click through?
We are preparing Edusimo training in both SCORM versions, with tasks after every topic. The integration is in progress.