SCORM 1.2

SCORM 1.2 is a content standard, also known as: Shareable Content Object Reference Model 1.2.

The SCORM 1.2 documentation is managed by Advanced Digital Learning (ADL), and was last updated in 2001.

SCORM 1.2 is a widely adopted set of technical standards that allows online learning content and Learning Management Systems (LMSs) to “talk to each other.”

It covers three main aspects:

1. How content is structured (packaging)
2. How content is described (metadata) although most corporate platforms and content authoring tools don't support this, other than a simple title and description
3. How content exchanges data with the LMS (runtime)

SCORM 1.2 was instrumental in standardizing early elearning interoperability.

Some companies have developed workarounds for some of the limitations:

• Limited data: By adding custom data, although this relies on both the authoring tool and the hosting LMS knowing how to parse that data.
• Rigid, linear structure: Authoring tools overcome the rigid, linear structure limitation by ignoring much of the content packaging specification. Instead, all their content is placed into a single SCO.
• Online only: Some LMSs have built mobile apps which cache the tracking data and send it when the device is next online.
• Republishing process: Some authoring tools and third parties keep the content on their platform, while the LMS hosts a ‘stub’ file. Updates to the content can then happen in the background.