SCORM stands for Sharable Content Object Reference Model, a collection of technical standard for web based elearning software product. SCORM is used to facilitate communication between learning content and learning management system. It present the learning content to learners based on the learner choices and performance at run-time.

Main goals adopt for SCORM

SCORM goals are to enable interoperability, accessibility and reusability of web based learning content.

Interoperability – The ability to take instructional components developed in one location and uses them in another location.

Accessibility – The ability to locate and access the instructional components from one location and deliver them to many other locations.

Reusability – The flexibility to incorporate instructional components in multiple application and contexts.

History of SCORM

The SCORM standards are published by Advanced Distributed Learning Initiative (ADL) for elearning. On January 2000 SCORM version 1.0 was released, version 1.1 in January 2001, version 1.2 in October 2001 and version 1.3 in January 2004. Each version acts as a pillar.

SCORM Version

Version 1.0

Scorm 1.0 was the outline of SCORM framework and it would become the basic foundation of SCORM. It specified how learning content should be packaged, how learning content communicate with learning management system and describe metadata.

Version 1.1

SCORM 1.1 was the first production version of SCORM based on feedback requirement from SCORM 1.0. It used a course structure XML file format based on the AICC specification to describe content structure.

Version 1.2

SCORM 1.2 solved many problems occurred in SCORM 1.1. It is widely used and largely supported by learning management system. SCORM 1.2 uses IMS content packaging specification with full content manifest and support for metadata.

Version 1.3

It is also know as SCORM 2004. SCORM 2004 were derived from SCORM 1.2 are very stable and widely used. It includes all the flavors such as content packaging and metadata. But it is added with new key as sequencing and navigation.

SCORM 1.3 Editions

SCORM 2004 1st Edition (January 2004) – changing the version and each books should be maintained separately. ADL is no longer to support this edition.

SCORM 2004 2nd Edition (July 2004) – built upon a Content Aggregation Model and Run Time Environment.

* Content Aggregation Model – Packaging of Content and learning object.
* Run Time Environment – describes APL runtime and data model used from communication between content objects and learning management system.

SCORM 2004 3rd Edition (October 2006) – remove ambiguities, improve interoperability, clarification of concept and clarification of requirements.