What is SCORM and do you need it?

SCORM comes up in almost every eLearning conversation and is rarely explained clearly. Here is the plain-English version.

SCORM stands for Sharable Content Object Reference Model. That is a fairly impenetrable name for a fairly straightforward idea. Here is what it actually means and why it matters for your organisation.

What is SCORM

SCORM is a technical standard that defines how eLearning content and learning management systems talk to each other. When a course is published as a SCORM package, it can communicate information back to the LMS: whether a learner has started it, whether they have completed it, what score they achieved, and how long they spent on it.

Without SCORM, an eLearning course and an LMS do not communicate. A learner could complete a course and the LMS would have no record of it.

SCORM 1.2 vs SCORM 2004

There are two main versions of SCORM in common use. SCORM 1.2 is older but still the most widely supported. SCORM 2004 is more capable but not universally supported across all LMS platforms.

Before your course is published, find out which version your LMS supports. When in doubt, SCORM 1.2 is the safer choice as it works with the widest range of platforms.

Do you need it?

You need SCORM if you want to track completion and results in an LMS. That covers most organisational training scenarios: compliance courses, inductions, mandatory training, anything where you need a record of who has done what.

You do not need to copy SCORM if your course is standalone content that does not need to be tracked. A short explainer video or an interactive PDF that you share via a link does not need to be SCORM-packaged.

A useful test: do you need to be able to run a report showing who has completed the course? If yes, you need SCORM. If completion can be self-reported or does not need to be tracked, you may not.

What about xAPI?

xAPI (also called Tin Can API) is a newer standard that offers more flexibility than SCORM. It can track a wider range of learning activities and works beyond the browser. Most modern LMS platforms support it, but it is not universally required for standard eLearning. Unless your LMS provider or learning strategy specifically calls for xAPI, SCORM is sufficient for most needs.

About the Author

Dan Deveney is a digital designer, educational specialist, and developer based near Dartmoor in Devon. Through Granite & Glitch, he works with small businesses, charities, and community groups to create accessible, high-performance digital projects, drawing on more than 15 years of experience across design, education, and development.