Cirrus Blog xAPI (Tin Can API) - moving on from SCORM

The term SCORM is much bandied about in e-learning circles. But should your e-learning really be SCORM compliant, or has the industry moved on? SCORM stands for Sharable Content Object Reference Model. It's a standard approach to e-learning design that means you can load up your e-learning modules onto any Learning Management System (LMS), anywhere, and everything will interlink and operate beautifully. Until recently, it probably could have been regarded as a 'must have', as e-learning developed in this way would be guaranteed to be useable across a variety of scenarios and ensuring compatibility with systems from any vendor. But, new options are available now, so it's as well to be aware of these as practical cost effective options to SCORM, that offer a new level of flexibility.The most significant of these is Tin Can API (now called xAPI or Experience API). xAPI makes it possible for learning systems and learning content to talk to each other, to record and track all kinds of learning experiences, and capture information about a person's learning from a variety of different devices. It records learning interactions in a straightforward structure, which can then be stored, tracked and shared. The Learning Record Store (LRS) in which all the information is kept, can exist either on its own or within an LMS - making it an extremely flexible and cost effective option. The impact of this is that learners no longer have to log into an LMS to access their learning, so that organisations can offer learners access to materials across multiple devices, without needing to invest in an LMS to hold courses and monitor learning.LRSs have a standard structure and can talk to each other, making it easy to transfer learning information from one LRS to another - a major benefit for learners who may move from one division to another, or one organisation to another. Now learning records can follow people through their careers, rather than having to be recreated with every move. The LRS also has powerful options for analytics across learning activity, leading to useful insights on progress and development.Ten years ago, SCORM was state-of-the-art technology. It could be that it still has its place, but from its launch in the Spring of last year, xAPI is fast becoming the de facto standard. It's far more inclusive than SCORM, as it covers learning experiences of all kinds, offers more control over learning content, and can track games and simulations. We enjoy working with xAPI - it offers greater capability and flexibility. Why not ask us about it?