SCORM 1.2 is a learning 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:
- How content is structured (packaging)
- How content is described (metadata) although most corporate platforms and content authoring tools don't support this, other than a simple title and description
- 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.
Strengths
- Widespread adoption
- Reduces vendor lock-in
Limitations
- Passes very limited data about user behaviours to the host system
- Rigid, linear structure by default
- Relies on the user being online
- Updating published SCORM packages can be difficult
- Aging technology which can lead to challenges with modern development practices and browser security