DoDI 1322.26 SCORM® Reference
SCORM® Reference Introduction
This guide is the official SCORM® reference and support resource for Department of Defense Instruction (DoDI) 1322.26. This reference contains the most recent technical information available and will be updated as ADL Initiative and the DADLAC identify new information or recommend changes to standards, specifications, conformance, testing, acquisition, and other distributed learning topic areas. Readers are encouraged to visit this reference frequently for the latest available technical information and guidelines.
Documentation & Resources
Acquisition & Development Guidance
This section explores concepts related to the acquisition and development of SCORM® as an approach to DL. ADL Initiative will update this reference guide with sample contract language upon availability of impending updates to conformance and certification protocols.
Sharing and Reusing SCORM® Content
SCORM® was the first standard created by ADL Initiative for both DL content and DL systems. It includes specifications for tracking course progress and sharing content objects used in courses. Before developing new SCORM® content, DoD Components should search for existing content that can be reused or repurposed. At a minimum, formal DoD Components can search lists or systems for reuse as facilitated by the DADLAC.
SCORM® Content Development
Multiple methods can be used to create learning content; however, to produce SCORM® content (whether developing or acquiring):
- Target the intended operating environment. Content should be conformant to the latest supported (SCORM® 1.2, SCORM® 2004 3rd Edition, or SCORM® 2004 4th Edition) version of SCORM® supported by the target DL system.
- In future acquisitions, avoid non-supported versions of SCORM®.
- Use non-proprietary and standards-based content formats whenever possible to enhance the possibility of reuse and durability.
- When developing or acquiring SCORM® content, optimize for reusability as defined in the ADL Initiative Guidelines for Creating Reusable Content with SCORM® 2004.
- If SCORM® 2004 sequencing is used, include a content structure diagram and sequencing rules table in final delivery as described in the SCORM® Users Guide for Programmers Reference.
- See the SCORM® Users Guide for ISDs for how to consider SCORM® in the instructional design strategy of DL content.
- When considering third-party authoring tools or vendors, see the Choosing Authoring Tools reference from ADL Initiative.
- Content developers who are concerned about SCORM® data integrity can take some actions to mitigate known vulnerabilities with JavaScript. ADL Initiative provides examples these mitigation actions in the following two documents:
SCORM® Content Reporting Consistency
SCORM® requires DL systems, such as an LMS or learning content management system (LCMS) to store and return run-time data model values to the content while the learner is in an active session with the content. After completion of the content, most DL systems:
- Provide reporting capabilities leveraging data model values; however, this is not specified by SCORM®.
- Provide, at a minimum, completion status (complete or incomplete), success status (pass or fail), and score information.
To promote reporting consistency across content created by multiple developers and instructional designers, design and program the content to set the cmi.completion_status or cmi.success_status for each shareable content object (SCO) at a minimum.
SCORM® Content Packaging
SCORM® content is transported and processed using SCORM® content packages. When creating SCORM® content packages to make DL content more reusable, developers should also consider the following:
- Make the file size of the content packages as small and efficient as possible to simplify distribution, portability, and reuse.
- Align the content packages with instructional lessons or specific instructional events (e.g., terminal learning objectives, enabling learning objectives, or a practice activity).
- Develop instructional events within an instructional lesson, especially those that benefit from being tracked and reported, as SCOs.
- Use a shared resource folder and a flat file structure (e.g. do not nest folders based on topics), to allow individual SCOs to be more easily transferred from one package to another.
SCORM® Conformance
After the specific version and edition of SCORM® have been targeted, use the criteria in Table 1 to determine the conformance labels for each supported version (SCORM® 1.2 or SCORM® 2004) and edition to support proper conformance testing.
SCORM® 2004 4th Edition | SCORM® 2004 3rd Edition | SCORM® Version 1.2 | |
---|---|---|---|
Test Suite | ADL Initiative SCORM® 2004 4th Edition Test Suite Version 1.1.1 | ADL Initiative SCORM® 2004 3rd Edition Conformance Test Suite Version 1.0.2 or ADL Initiative SCORM® 2004 3rd Edition Conformance Test Suite Version 1.1.2 | ADL Initiative SCORM®Version 1.2 Conformance Test Suite Version 1.2.7 |
Conformance Label | CP SCORM® 2004 4th Ed. Conformant | CP SCORM® 2004 3rd Ed. Conformant | ADLCP-PIF1 |
Conformance Requirements Document | SCORM® 2004 4th Edition Testing Requirements Version 1.1 | SCORM® 2004 3rd Edition Conformance Requirements Version 1.2 | SCORM® Version 1.2 Conformance Requirements Version 1.2 |
SCORM® Conformant-Content Contract Language
Table 2 provides recommended sample verbiage to ensure SCORM®-conformant DL is procured. Components acquiring DL should update the sample statements to reflect the correct version and edition of SCORM® content to be procured.
SCORM® Version | Sample Contract Statements |
---|---|
ADL Initiative SCORM® 2004 4th Edition |
“The contractor shall ensure distributed learning content is conformant to SCORM® 2004 4th Edition.” The following documents will be cited in the solicitation document (keyed to the appropriate section) for DL: ADL Initiative SCORM® 2004 4th Edition Testing Requirements Version 1.1. Acceptance shall be based on the following:
|
ADL Initiative SCORM® 2004 3rd Edition |
“The contractor shall ensure distributed learning content is conformant to SCORM® 2004 3rd Edition.” The following documents will be cited in the solicitation document (keyed to the appropriate section) for DL: ADL Initiative SCORM® 2004 3rd Edition Conformance Requirements Version 1.2. Acceptance shall be based on one of the following:
|
ADL Initiative SCORM® Version 1.2 |
“The contractor shall ensure distributed learning content is conformant to SCORM® Version 1.2.” The following documents will be cited in the solicitation document (keyed to the appropriate section) for DL: ADL Initiative SCORM® Version 1.2 Conformance Requirements Version 1.2. Acceptance shall be based on one of the following:
|
SCORM® System Conformance
Currently, ADL Initiative supports SCORM® 1.2, SCORM® 2004 3rd Edition, and SCORM® 2004 4th Edition. Conformance test suites for DL systems are available for each. Generally, DL acquisition professionals should procure an LMS and/or LCMS that can demonstrate conformance against the required version(s) of SCORM®.
Further, ADL Initiative advises procurers to review our “Choosing an LMS” document.
SCORM®-Conformant System Contract Language
General SCORM®-conformant system statements should be used in requirements documents (specifications, statements of work, performance work statements, or other applicable program requirements documentation), as described in Table 3.
SCORM® Version | Sample Contract Statements |
---|---|
ADL Initiative SCORM® 2004 4th Edition |
“The contractor shall ensure the component of the distributed learning system that imports, runs, and sequences asynchronous, web-based distributed learning content is conformant to SCORM® 2004 4th Edition.” The following documents will be cited in the request for proposal (RFP) package (keyed to the appropriate section) for DLS: ADL Initiative SCORM® 2004 4th Edition Testing Requirements Version 1.1. Acceptance will be based on the following:
|
ADL Initiative SCORM® 2004 3rd Edition |
“The contractor shall ensure the component of the distributed learning system that imports, runs, and sequences asynchronous, web-based distributed learning content is conformant to SCORM® 2004 3rd Edition.” The following documents will be cited in the RFP package (keyed to the appropriate section) for DLS: ADL Initiative SCORM® 2004 3rd Edition Conformance Requirements Version 1.2. Acceptance will be based on the following:
|
ADL Initiative SCORM® Version 1.2 |
“The contractor shall ensure the component of the distributed learning system that imports, runs, and sequences asynchronous, web-based distributed learning content is conformant to SCORM® Version 1.2.” The following documents will be cited in the RFP package (keyed to the appropriate section) for DLS: ADL Initiative SCORM® Version 1.2 Conformance Requirements Version 1.2. Acceptance will be based on one of the following:
|