SCORM - demystified

First Part

SCORM:
Advanced Distributed Learning Initiative (ADL) introduced SCORM(Sharable Content Object Reference Model), which is a collection of standards and specifications for web-based e-learning. It defines communications between client side content and LMS. SCORM also defines how content may be packaged into a transferable ZIP file.

A SCORM is a competitive edge conformance which helps the user to:

- use standardized packages of learning content.
- recognize individual students and collect info about their progress.
- use meta data

So now, your LMS can offer different feature sets, have different strengths, and be very different in look and feel but as long as they follow SCORM, the courses work pretty well.

Among SCORM goals are to enable interoperability, accessibility and reusability of web-based learning content for industry, government, and academia.

SCORM Versions:
SCORM 1.0, SCORM 1.1, SCORM 1.2, SCORM 2004(1.3)- Latest

SCORM Conformance:
A SCORM-conformant content package can be delivered via SCORM-conformant learning management systems, and SCORM-conformant learning management systems can deliver SCORM-conformant content packages.

Content is generally compatible with SCORM if:
# It can be delivered via a web browser
# It can be self-contained (i.e. packaged with all dependencies wholly in a ZIP file)
# It does NOT depend on server-side scripting languages (such as JSP, ASP, and PHP)
# It does NOT depend on external files or external URLs
# It does NOT depend on downloadable components that must be installed by an administrator

SCORM Content Packages:
A SCORM content package is a self-contained ZIP file containing certain contents defined by the SCORM standard. The file is known as a Package Interchange File (PIF) and it contains all files needed to deliver the content package via a SCORM run-time environment and/or learning management system (LMS).

Mandatory Content Package contents:
• XML manifest file (imsmanifest.xml)
• All schema/definition (.xsd and .dtd) files referenced by the manifest file
• All resource files used by the content package and its learning activities

SCORM content packages contain an XML manifest file that describes the package and its contents. The manifest file is a structured inventory of the content of the package. The name of the manifest file is always imsmanifest.xml and it must appear in the root of the content package.