What is SCORM?
Shareable Content Object Reference Model (SCORM) is a collection of standards and specifications for web-based electronic educational technology (commonly called ‘e-learning’). In its most basic sense, it is a set of rules that dictates how files should be packaged by authors and read by content delivery systems. There are two main versions of SCORM: 1.2 and 2004, and both are natively supported by Courseplay.
Creating SCORM Content
Courseplay does not generate SCORM content. Courseplay uploads, unpacks and presents SCORM packages to learners, and saves data generated from learner interactions with the SCORM package in our database.
Some people hand-code SCORM objects using HTML, JavaScript, and sometimes SWF files. There are some templates provided by ADL and by others, which make this process easier. Others use SCORM authoring software to generate SCORM packages. This process is easier for non-technical users, but not as fool-proof.
We have listed a few recommended SCORM authoring tools below, however it is important to note that no SCORM authoring software is perfect, and some have issues ranging from minor to significant when used with Courseplay. Just because products are listed on this page does not mean that they are fully supported by Courseplay. Be sure to test all products extensively before purchase and feel free to speak with someone on our support team to sure it is fully supported by our platform.
Before Investing in SCORM Authoring Software
Many of the products in our guide piggyback on Microsoft Powerpoint, or present just a talking head video to a learner. Powerpoint presentations and talking heads do not necessarily promote social learning. It really depends on what other modules are combined with this content to determine the ROI and engagement levels of a course. Before embarking upon SCORM development it is valuable to consider whether your organization wants to limit itself to the pedagogical approaches provided by the SCORM API.
It is also important to know that technically one does not need to purchase or obtain any product in order to produce SCORM content. SCORM content is a collection of HTML, JavaScript, and multimedia files, all of which can be produced by regular humans. Humans are, in addition, capable of testing your content in your LMS and writing code which addresses the nuances of your LMS, a valuable service which authoring tools do not provide.
In addition, an authoring-tool dependent production model, in which non-programmers produce content using graphical user interfaces, can present issues because non-programmers do not understand some of the basic tenets of the Web. It is a good idea to educate the users of such tools about best practices with regard to issues such as file size, file naming conventions, how to publish images for the Web, and so forth, before turning them loose with any SCORM authoring product.
Popular Commercial SCORM Authoring Tools:
Articulate 360: USD 999 per year
Articulate Storyline 2: USD 1,398
Techsmith Camtasia: USD 199
Adobe Captivate 9: USD 29.99 per month
iSpring Converter Pro: USD 297
iSpring Suite 8.5: USD 697
Lectora Online: USD 1,290 per year
Lectora Publisher: USD 1,595 per year
Lectora Inspire: USD 2,174 per year