SCORM: The Quick Guide

By Alan Boyd

www.aurionlearning.com

• What is SCORM?

• Why SCORM?

• How does it Work?

• What does SCORM do?

• What does SCORM not do?

• Common issues/Considerations

What is SCORM?

SCORM = Sharable Content Object Reference

Model

SCORM content will run on any learning management

system (LMS) that is SCORM compliant

SCORM modules can be reassembled & used as components for new programmes

Reusing SCORM Modules

Diversity E-learning Course for Client 2

Module 1: UK Legislation 1Module 2: NI Legislation Module 3: Specific to Client

Diversity E-learning Course for Client 1

Module 1: UK Legislation 1Module 2: UK Legislation 2Module 3: Specific to Client Diversity E-learning Course for

Client 3

Module 1: UK Legislation 1Module 2: NI Legislation Module 3: Specific to Client

How does it Work?

Sharable Content Object

(SCO)

Initialise >>>>>>

Started >>>>>>

Completed >>

Terminate >>>>* Other functions such as Score and Suspend Data

Learning Management

System

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

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

Common SCORM Issues

Case sensitive

Common SCORM Issues

Size of SCO

Delivering & updating SCORM

packages References to LMS or LMS

functions

Setting Completion

Self-contained package

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>

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.

References to LMS / LMS Functions

* Don’t include exit button in the SCO. This is an LMS function.

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.

Setting Completion

• Completion Criteria should be considered during ID

• Completion criteria should be simple

• User should be informed what the completion criteria are

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

Delivering SCORM Packages

• Manifest file is added.• Package is zipped with manifest file in root

Updating SCORM packages

• Depends on LMS

• Might be necessary to delete the programme and upload

again.

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