SCORM-compliant courseware

What is SCORM?
Wikipedia has this definition. Sharable Content Object Reference Model (SCORM) is a collection of standards and specifications for web-based e-learning. It defines communications between client side content and a host system called the run-time environment (commonly a function of a learning management system). SCORM also defines how content may be packaged into a transferable ZIP file.

SCORM is a specification of the Advanced Distributed Learning (ADL) Initiative, which comes out of the Office of the United States Secretary of Defense.

SCORM 2004 introduces a complex idea called sequencing, which is a set of rules that specifies the order in which a learner may experience content objects. In simple terms, they constrain a learner to a fixed set of paths through the training material, permit the learner to "bookmark" their progress when taking breaks, and assure the acceptability of test scores achieved by the learner. The standard uses XML, and it is based on the results of work done by AICC, IMS Global, IEEE, and Ariadn.

I like to example given by Rustici Software on the website scorm.com. They explain it is terms of DVD's. Regardless to the type of player the you own, you expect for any of the movies that work in that player despite who made it. This is true because to standards that established in that industry.

SCORM stands for “Sharable Content Object Reference Model”.
“Sharable Content Object” indicates that SCORM is all about creating units of online training material that can be shared across systems. SCORM defines how to create “sharable content objects” or “SCOs” that can be reused in different systems and contexts.

“Reference Model” reflects the fact that SCORM isn’t actually a standard. ADL didn’t write SCORM from the ground up. Instead, they noticed that the industry already had many standards that solved part of the problem. SCORM simply references these existing standards and tells developers how to properly use them together.


SCORM is produced by ADL, a research group sponsored by the United States Department of Defense (DoD).

For information on SCORM, check out this sites.
www.toolbook.com/community_scorm.php
www.scorm.com/scorm_explained