SCORM

What is the main benefit of adopting SCORM?

There are numerous benefits to adopting SCORM, and all are related to ADL’s functional requirements for SCORM.

  1. Accessibility:The ability to locate and access instructional components from multiple locations and deliver them to other locations. For example, a content author can search the ADL Registry and identify relevant content that has already been developed by another organization and deploy that content on any LMS that complies with the same version of SCORM to learners anywhere in the world.
  2. Interoperability: The ability to take instructional components developed in one system and use them in another system. For example, content packaged for delivery in one SCORM-compliant LMS could be loaded into another LMS that complies with the same version of SCORM for delivery to learners.
  3. Durability: The ability to withstand technology evolution and/or changes without costly redesign, reconfiguration, or recoding. For example, upgrading to a new computer operating system should have no impact on the delivery of content to learners.
  4. Reusability: The flexibility to incorporate instructional components in multiple applications and contexts. For example, e-learning content designed for one organization can be redeployed, rearranged, repurposed, or rewritten by other organizations that have similar learning needs.

(Source: Advanced Distributed Learning Initiative)



Accessibility, Interoperability, Durability and Reusability are also known as the “-ilities” of SCORM.


One important note: in the last few years, the term “accessibility” is more and more used to focus on people with disabilities and their ability to access entities. This shouldn’t be confused with the more general definition of accessibility, which is the one reported in the SCORM specifications.