What is SCORM?

SCORM is content that has been packaged according to a certain standard. This standard is a file in a .zip format. The .zip file always contains an IMS manifest and a Start URL.

There are several reference models for SCORM:

• SCORM 1.2 
• SCORM 2004. SCORM 2004 has had several editions, of which the 4th edition is the most recent.

The main difference between the models and editions is in the number of characters/data that can be passed to the LMS. For SCORM 1.2 and the earlier editions of SCORM 2004, these are limited to 4,000 characters; in the 4th Edition of SCORM 64,000 characters are allowed. All in all a major difference.

The content contained in a SCORM package can consist of knowledge training/manual and/or a test. Depending on the contents and settings (in the SCORM package), the SCORM package will send data to the LMS:

• For a knowledge training, this will be the status complete/incomplete.
• For a test, this will be the status Passed/Failed and a score.
• The test can be set such that it can only be taken once, or that it can be taken multiple times.

Check what type of SCORM package you buy or create

When you buy or create e-learning, make sure to check the following:

• Is it SCORM 1.2 or SCORM 2004 (+ which edition)?
• What status is being sent by the SCORM package: Completed/Incomplete or Passed/Failed?
• What is the pass mark? At which score does someone pass or fail?
• How is progress being monitored and stored?
• Will progress be stored intermediately? Can the learner close the module and pick up where they left off?
• What are the correct responses to the test questions (without those it can be difficult to test)?
• When you create a course yourself, take the following into account:
  • which data should actually be stored/sent (the suspend data) as the available space is limited;
  • use short names for menu-progress variables;
  • use SCORM 2004 4th edition if you want to store many data points.

Choose the correct settings in your LMS

Next, you will import the SCORM package into a Learning Management System (LMS). Each LMS will handle a SCORM package slightly differently, therefore it is of the utmost importance to test how the SCORM package works in your specific LMS.

The following needs to be checked in the LMS after importing a SCORM package:

• How many attempts does the learner get to pass the test? (This can be set in the SCORM package itself, but often also in the LMS);
• What score do you want recorded in the LMS? The highest (default), average, first or latest?
• Will the course automatically complete after a successful attempt, or can the learner complete the course manually?

Testing the SCORM package

1. Check whether the SCORM package has been set up correctly by testing it first in Scormcloud (a free LMS) and then uploading it into your LMS.
2. Check the settings in the LMS (when will the course go to complete).
3. Test whether the module's behaviour meets your expectations:

Should you find any issues during or after testing, you can send an email to [email protected].

Remember to always include the following in the email:

• Is it SCORM 1.2 or SCORM 2004 (+ which edition)?
• What authoring tool was used to create the module?
• What status, scores and other data have been set to be sent to the LMS;
• How progress is stored and monitored, whether progress is stored intermediately and whether the learner can resume where they left off;
• What the correct responses are to the test questions (we cannot test the module if we haven't got the correct responses);
• Under which name/code and with which settings you have placed the course in the LMS;
• Screenshots that show the problem in question.