What is SCORM? A simple guide for effective E-learning

Since its inception, it has redefined our daily activities thereby automating workflow and reducing redundancies frequently associated with manual processes and activities. From agriculture to banking to education, technology has left its incredible trails. On the issue of education particularly concerning E-Learning, the value of a SCORM can't be sidelined. SCORM is an abbreviation meaning shareable content object reference model.

One major concern of yours should be selecting the best enterprise learning management software which would serve the needs of your organization and is compliant and compatible with the industry's elite standard. ispringsolutions is one such software that is focused on creating engaging and user-friendly content to enhance corporate learning.

In simple terms, SCORM is a collection of standards and specifications for electronic educational technology also called electronic learning. The prominence of SCORM is highlighted in online learning as it brings order and a predetermined mechanism of how learning contents are introduced to the learner and how these contents in question will be experienced. After all, UX is a vital part of 21st century focused technology. This complex idea brought by SCORM is termed sequencing.

SCORM also specifies how content can be collected into a shareable ZIP file called a Package Interchange Format. This statement by necessary implication raises a fundamental question which is how is this shareable zip file birthed? The simple answer to this is when an authoring tool used to create an E-Learning course is SCORM compliant the output is a ZIP folder.

Understanding the basics of SCORM via a pictorial representation

Picture 1 of What is SCORM? A simple guide for effective E-learning

What you should know

Navigating a new terrain can be overwhelming and nerve-wracking, to say the least. And, computer technology or programming isn't the easiest of niches or fields. It can be rocket science if you are not armed with the right knowledge or perspective. Understanding SCORM can be sometimes difficult for E-Learning experts and tech-savvy people as a result of its highly technical nature. Hence, you must have an in-depth mastery of this subject, particularly trainers and developers who need its beneficial functions for their programs.

There are many procedures (especially preoperative steps) that must be taken.

Before we dive into the preoperative procedures that have been proven utterly necessary, you must take into consideration the two major components of SCORM.

1. Sharable Content Object or SCO: This component reflects a salient feature of a SCORM compliant package which is its innate ability to be reused across multiple tools and platforms. The contents or assets should be understood by compatible learning tools and platforms.
2. Reference Model: This part highlights the standard by which E-Learning content must be fulfilled. There are technical specifications that are generalized to provide a common guide to how E-Learning assets are deployed and utilized.

Along the line, you would have to ask yourself some fundamental questions ranging from

Is your LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM compliant with industry standards?

Do you need to create SCORM COURSES?

It's human nature to want to understand how a system or process works and the underlying mechanisms responsible for its operations. This brings us to the question of how SCORM works?

At the core of its operation lies the Packaging Content or the Content Aggregation Model which determines how a piece of content or learning asset is presented or delivered in the physical sense. With this feature in conjunction with a document titled "imsmanifest" the learning management system can import and launch content with minimal or no human intervention. Questions like which document should be launched? What is the name of this content? are answered by this document.

The second component that aids functionality is the Run-Time communication or Data Exchange. Like the name solely implies, it essentially revolves around communication. It specifies how the content interacts with the Learning management system while the content is playing. Before the content can communicate with the learning management system it has to embark on a search and upon finding the LMS it can communicate through a series of set calls or associated vocabulary. Hence, certain vocabularies are associated with the LMS to execute commands and directives. A hypothetical scenario is when the content informs the LMS that the user scored 95% on the test he took.

What is the use anyway? Does it have benefits?

1. Educational benefits/potentials: SCORM has many advantageous uses especially its education-focused outlook. The traditional method of doing exams or learning is mentally exerting and physically demanding. The potentials of SCORM in computer-based training, online learning, and E-Learning are mind-blowing. It is no news that active learning is essential for easy recall and flawless application of knowledge gained during the duration of the classes to real-life problems.

It achieves this by deploying instructional design, visual design, presentations, and storytelling.

Previous market informatics and goal-oriented research showed the mouthwatering numbers that E-Learning was steadily raking. By this information, the E-Learning market is worth about $38 billion and this could be attributed to the advent of SCORM and its role in ensuring global compliance of all contents and their integration with other LMS.

1. Interoperability: Every establishment aims to maximize profit and minimize losses. Spending unnecessary additional costs is not a way to minimize losses or wasteful spending. In cases where your learning management system cannot accommodate your content needs or in circumstances where you need a better and highly functional LMS preferably a SCORM compliant one, you can export your content from the old one to the new one without any modifications or alterations. This feature has a domino effect as it has the attendant characteristic of reusability and its easy accessibility.

1. Durability: Everyone loves things that have a long lifespan. First, it reduces the burden of extra fees and highlights the value of that particular thing. In the digital era, digital assets or contents can easily lose their value or worth thereby becoming obsolete as a result of emerging assets. Well, thanks to the specifications and standards of SCORM which guarantees that all created assets will retain their validity.

Conclusion

In summary, SCORM is a technological intervention that can and will never outlive its usefulness. From adaptability to seamlessness to accessibility and Cost-effectiveness SCORM eases the entire workflow of any organization or setup as its features standardization, value, and effectiveness.

Kareem Winters

Update 11 December 2021