(eLearning) Scorm Standards - eLearning Industry

This is an extract taken from the SCORM section of ADLNET.ORG


SCORM Overview
The Sharable Content Object Reference Model (SCORM) aims to foster creation of reusable learning content as "instructional objects" within a common technical framework for computer and Web-based learning. SCORM describes that technical framework by providing a harmonized set of guidelines, specification and standards. Borrowing from work of other specification and standards bodies, ADL developed a model for creating and deploying e-Learning.

SCORM helps define the technical foundations of a Web-based learning environment. At its simplest, it is a model that reference a set of interrelated technical specifications and guidelines designed to meet high-level requirements for learning content and systems. SCORM describes a "Content Aggregation Model (CAM)" and "Run-Time Environment (RTE)" for learning objects to support adaptive presentation of content based on criteria such as learner objectives, preferences and performance.

SCORM targets the Web as a primary medium for delivering instruction. It does so under the assumption that anything that can be delivered by the Web can be easily used in other instructional settings that make fewer demands on accessibility and network communications. This strategy eliminates much of the development work once needed to adapt to the latest technology platform because the Web itself is becoming a universal delivery medium. By building upon existing Web standards and infrastructures, SCORM frees developers to focus on effective learning strategies.

The development of SCORM continues, even as the main medium it targets, the Web, continues to evolve and change. SCORM currently provides an Application Programming Interface (API) for communicating information about a learner’s interaction with content objects, a defined data model for representing this information, a content packaging specification that enables interoperability of learning content, a standard set of meta-data elements that can be used to describing learning content and a set of standard sequencing rules which can be applied to the organization of the learning content. While the technical standards used by the Web turn out to work equally well locally, regionally and globally, when it comes to the standardization of e-learning itself, the task of SCORM, is continuing to evolve.

First released in January 2000, the SCORM continues to update and expand the scope of the specifications through cooperation with industry, government and academic participants.

SCORM Today
SCORM is a collection of specifications and standards that can be viewed as separate "books" gathered together into a growing library. Nearly all of the specifications and guidelines are taken from other organizations. These technical "books" are presently grouped under three main topics: "Content Aggregation Model (CAM)," "Run-Time Environment (RTE)" and "Sequencing and Navigation (SN) (introduced in SCORM 2004)." Additional specifications are anticipated in future SCORM releases.

While the various SCORM books, focusing as they do on specific aspects of SCORM, are intended to stand alone, there are areas of overlap or mutual coverage. For instance, while the RTE book focuses primarily on communication between content and LMSs, it frequently refers to the types of content objects conducting that communication: Sharable Content Objects (SCOs). Their definition and the complete treatment of SCOs are found in the CAM book. Similarly, the Sequencing and Navigation book covers the details of SCORM sequencing and navigation processes to include detailed coverage of how an LMS evaluates navigation requests and related activities. The run-time navigation behavior maintains the possibility of reusing learning resources within multiple and different aggregation contexts. Thus by keeping the rules and navigation separate from and outside of content objects, the content may be reused in new and different ways to support many different instructional strategies.

The above defines the definition as well as the importance of SCORM Standards in the eLearning. With the emerging market for eLearning (LMS, LCMS, CMS, ...), the the importance and usage of SCORM is growing.
I had been working on SCORM for quite sometime. And with my experience, I can say that, though learning it or working on it looks easy , there is a lot to SCORM and much can be done using it as a standard. Infact, many of the firms that develop Content or who depend on eLearning are following SCORM Standards.

I am planning to write some reviews on existing tools that help in implementing Scorm Standards in an easy way.