With some figures suggesting that around 30 million presentations are created daily, Microsoft PowerPoint still reigns supreme in many businesses. When there’s all this content out there, converting it to elearning might feel like a quick win. But what might get lost in the transition? Can you maintain your impact and even amplify it? In this PowerPoint to SCORM guide, discover how to transform your passive slides into interactive elearning content that really resonates.

What is SCORM, and why is it important?

Before jumping into the PowerPoint to SCORM conversion process, let’s get clear on why you’d want to do it in the first place. 

SCORM stands for Shareable Content Object Reference Model. Once your PowerPoint is SCORM compliant, it can run from Learning Management Systems (LMSs) that are compatible with SCORM. 

SCORM’s tracking capabilities offer invaluable insights into how employees engage with their training. No longer tied to scheduled classroom sessions, employees can launch your learning content anytime, anywhere. Your LMS will track their progress, completion, assessment results, and, in some cases, more detailed analytics on learner engagement.

Want to find out more about SCORM and the benefits it offers? Check out our What is SCORM? blog.

Why converting PowerPoint to SCORM alone isn’t enough

Of course, what engages learners isn’t how they access training. It’s the interaction they have with the content that delivers real impact. This interaction needs to be timely, relevant and – most importantly – inspire action in the real world. 

When used in face-to-face or virtual classroom training, PowerPoint presentations provide prompts and visual aids. They help learners keep up and join in with group activity. If used effectively, slides won’t contain everything that happens in the classroom. So, simply putting this existing content online often misses the context, examples, and interactivity that brings classroom training to life. 

A PowerPoint deck without a presenter loses its power, which is where elearning software comes in. Using an authoring tool empowers you to transform flat and uninspiring slides into engaging digital content. But it’s a mistake to think this just happens at the click of a button. To deliver learning retention and performance improvement, follow these steps for effective PowerPoint to SCORM conversion.

Preparing your PowerPoint for conversion

As with any training project, preparation is key. Don’t rush into converting your PowerPoint. Make sure you: 

• Identify your objectives: Start by getting clear on what you want your learners to be able to do or know after completing the elearning course. Once you’ve identified your learning objectives, you can design your interactive elements to meet those goals. 
• Consider the changing environment: The strategies that engage learners in a classroom may not be effective (or even possible) in elearning. Identify opportunities to introduce meaningful interactions and multimedia to replace human elements. 
• Review your content: Without a trainer reading the room, learners can switch off. Avoid information overload by trying to capture everything from the classroom. Pick the PowerPoint slides that will have the most impact. Keep the text concise and use visuals to explain concepts. Once you’ve made these changes, check there’s still a logical flow.

Step-by-step guide to convert PowerPoint to SCORM

Feeling prepared and ready to convert your PowerPoints into engaging online training? Let’s get started…

1. Choose the right authoring tool

It goes without saying, the tools you use for SCORM conversion can make or break your digital learning. There’s certainly no shortage of great software for you to choose from. So, where should you start?

Here’s a quick overview of the most popular tools:

• Elucidat: A user-friendly, cloud-based tool for creating quality workplace learning at scale. Whether it’s quick quizzes or social polling, it makes a range of interactions accessible to authors of all skill levels.

• Articulate Storyline 360: A suite of tools for creating different types of digital learning. You can add various interactions, but it has a steep learning curve and some collaborative limitations.

• iSpring Suite: An authoring tool that integrates directly with PowerPoint. It allows you to add branching scenarios and audio recordings, though may offer less innovative interaction than other platforms.

• Adobe Captivate: A desktop application known for advanced capabilities, particularly in simulations. 

• Lectora Online: A cloud-based tool that enhances PowerPoint with advanced interactions and scenarios. It can be a powerful tool but requires a bit more expertise.

For a more in-depth review, read the full comparison in this review of the top elearning authoring tools.

2. Import your PowerPoint file

Select an authoring tool with PowerPoint import capabilities and you can say goodbye to tedious manual content transfer. Each tool will have a slightly different import process, but it usually involves similar steps. 

Here’s how it works in Elucidat:

• Step 1: Choose the PowerPoint file for conversion. 
• Step 2: Select the images you want to keep.
• Step 3: Import! 

It takes a few moments to build your course, ready for you to reformat, restructure, and turn it into a great learning experience. 

Still not sure how to get started with your conversion? Check out our PowerPoint Import walkthrough.

3. Add interactive elements

You’ve already considered how interactivity will best meet your learning objectives. Now, it’s time to get interactive in your tool. 

From a simple question to more complex branching scenarios, there isn’t one right way to use the media and interactivity. Here are three examples to get you inspired.

Create participation

Whether in a classroom or online, active learning and practice are the building blocks of effective learning. So how can you translate the group discussion and activity of your face-to-face training to your elearning? Including questions is critical to get your learners reflecting, trying, practicing, and comparing their thinking.

This example of guided self-reflection encourages learners to stop, reflect, and commit to actions they’ll take forward with their team. Social polling appeals to people’s natural curiosity as they can compare their responses to those of their peers.

Explore the example

Tell stories

Great trainers pack their sessions with real-life case studies, examples, and stories that connect with their learners. Don’t lose this in the move to elearning. Adding elements of digital storytelling connects hearts and heads. It helps people understand how they can apply their new knowledge and skills and the impact it will have in the real world. 

This scenario-based learning hooks you in and immerses you in the story. You can make decisions and see the outcome of your choices. 

Explore the example

Add in multimedia content

Bringing even the most complex content to life, video and audio can help maintain the human element in your digital learning. Don’t think of these as standalone. Get learners to reflect on what they’ve seen or heard and put what they’ve learned into practice. A well-chosen combination of content and interactions will produce learning with impact.

This quick guide example is designed to be part of an onboarding campaign for new starters. It provides upfront information before a video demonstrates the task at hand. The guide ends with real-world actions to take on the shop floor during their first shift. 

Explore the example

4. Export as a SCORM package

Happy that your content looks polished and packed with interactivity? When you’re ready, export your SCORM package. 

The process varies by tool but generally involves similar steps. Here’s how it works in Elucidat:

• Step 1: Create a new release for your project. 
• Step 2: Select SCORM as your release mode.
  Note: Other tools might also ask you to choose a SCORM format, such as SCORM 1.2 or SCORM 2004.
• Step 3: Download! 

Top tip: Optimize your SCORM files for size and speed to reduce the file size and load time, and enhance performance.

For more tips, explore our SCORM export walkthrough article.

Testing and publishing SCORM content

Your download isn’t the end of the story. Eliminate avoidable errors before you release your content by taking time to test your SCORM package. 

A good Quality Assurance (QA) process can make or break your digital learning. This requires:

• Resource: It’s easy to miss mistakes in your own work. If you can, get someone else to QA your work. If that’s not feasible, put it aside so you can return with fresh eyes.

• Reviews: You can’t review everything at once. If you’re focusing on testing buttons, you’re not paying attention to the flow of content. So, do at least two separate end-to-end reviews: one for content and the other for functionality.

• Time: There’s no hard rule for allocating time for QA. But if you have around 30 minutes of content, it’s worth allowing 90 minutes or more for your reviews.

Once you’re done, you should be ready to publish a SCORM package that meets standards, works as expected, and provides a great learning experience. 

Spot a rogue typo after it’s live? Don’t worry, with some authoring tools like Elucidat you can seamlessly update your SCORM with a re-release option.

Summary

Increased flexibility, tracking capability, enhanced analytics… with so many benefits, it’s not surprising that more and more classroom training is being converted to elearning. But if you’re going to deliver impactful learning, you can’t just rush into a quick PowerPoint to SCORM conversion. 

Without a trainer, PowerPoint decks lose their power. You need to use an authoring tool to introduce interactivity that supports an effective digital learning experience. 

Remember, this isn’t just about clicks. It’s about engaging learners through active participation and connection. There isn’t one way to do this. Use a variety of approaches by incorporating visual and multimedia content. Get creative, and take advantage of the interactive features available to you for a more engaging experience.

Converting PowerPoint to SCORM with Elucidat

With Elucidat’s PowerPoint Import feature, you can easily convert static PowerPoint presentations into SCORM-compliant elearning. Plus, you can track learner progress and engagement, ensuring your elearning content is impactful and measurable. Ready to start producing some great SCORM-compliant digital learning? Book a demo of Elucidat, and we’ll get your free trial off to a flying start!

If your plan for this year is to create awesome SCORM-compliant elearning, you might be wondering what are the best SCORM authoring tools available right now. Whether you’re starting out in course creation or looking for an upgrade, our guide gives you an overview of some of the top SCORM authoring softwares. There are many platforms out there for creating SCORM content, so make sure you choose a SCORM course builder that’s right for you and your team!

What are SCORM authoring tools?

An authoring tool can be used to create and maintain web-based content. It’s created in a standardized course structure that can be exported in several different formats. SCORM stands for Shareable Content Object Reference Model. It means your content can run from any LMS that’s compatible with SCORM. Simply upload your zip package and you’re ready to go.

Want to find out more about SCORM? Check out our blog post: What is SCORM?

Types of SCORM authoring tools

SCORM authoring tools come in all shapes and sizes. There are two key types:

• Cloud-based authoring tools exist entirely online. They’re hosted on an external server. No download and install are needed.
• Desktop authoring tools are installed on your desktop. They may or may not require the Internet to work.

There are pros and cons to both types of SCORM-compliant authoring tools. Here are the things you should keep in mind when choosing the type of SCORM creation tools.

Need a hand with comparing tools? Check out our handy scorm authoring tool comparison template.

Internet access

Cloud-based SCORM content authoring tools can be accessed anytime, anywhere – as long as you have access to the Internet. From building to publishing, user management to storage – it all happens online. Everything is saved to the cloud.  You don’t have to constantly back up your work, and there’s no chance of losing it. Software updates are automatic, so you’ll always work with the latest features and bug fixes.

If you have limited access to the Internet, a desktop SCORM authoring tool might be best for you. As the tool is installed on your device, you can access it wherever you’re working – even without an Internet connection. Everything is stored on your hard-drive. There’s only one copy, so remember to back up your work. You’ll also need to manually check for software updates when you go online.

Ease of use

Cloud-based SCORM authoring tools are generally less complicated than desktop software. Complex layouts and advanced features mean desktop tools can have a steep learning curve.

If you need customized interactions or complicated branding, you may need intensive SCORM training or to hire an expert. Publishing content is time-consuming. Once published, it can also be hard to update.

Cloud-based authoring tools are more user-friendly. An intuitive interface means you can start building content straight away. Sharing, duplicating and updating content is easy with these flexible tools.

Collaboration

If you’re working alone, a desktop SCORM authoring tool might be for you. But even for the smallest project, collaboration is key. It’s likely you’ll need to involve subject matter experts and stakeholders to input on your online training. With a desktop tool, content needs to be created, converted, and published before it can be shared. This can make your feedback process longer and more laborious.

In contrast, collaboration between multiple people is easy with a cloud-based tool. Authors and reviewers can work on the same content at the same time. Effective collaboration speeds up content creation and produces better learning courses.

How to use a SCORM authoring tool

SCORM authoring tools are essential for creating elearning content that can be used in most LMSs. Here are some simple steps to help you get started with using a SCORM authoring tool:

1. Choose a tool that fits your needs and budget – Research SCORM authoring tools that meet your needs and budget, and choose the best option for you.
2. Activate your account – If you’re using a cloud-based tool, set up your account and get your users added in so they can start creating content. If you’re using a desktop tool, download and install the software, then open it to begin creating your elearning course.
3. Create a new project, and choose a template or start from scratch – It’s time to start creating content! To create a new project in your authoring tool, either choose a pre-designed template or start from scratch. Be sure to set up any brand styles early on to maintain consistency.
4. Add your content –Now for the important part – your content. Be sure to keep your content short and sweet so it is digestible for your learners. Don’t forget to include engaging interactions to ensure your learners stay focused.
5. Invite your team to review – Once you are happy with your content, it’s time for your team to review. Share your course content via file share, online link, or just invite them straight into the platform.
6. Test your course – Check that your elearning course is SCORM compliant and ensure that it runs smoothly before publishing. Be sure to test this mobile and tablets to ensure your course scales and looks great on all screen sizes.
7. Publish your elearning course – Finally, it’s time to share your content. Release your elearning course into a SCORM package and upload it to your LMS for learners to access. You can then track their progress and make updates from your authoring tool to improve and refine.

By following the seven simple steps outlined above, you’ll be able to get started with creating your own SCORM-compliant elearning courses that deliver impactful learning experiences.

Top 13 SCORM elearning authoring tools

Ultimately what LMS authoring tools you choose depends on you and your team’s needs. Are you:

• Building alone or collaborating?
• Keeping it simple or highly customized?
• Using open source SCORM authoring tool community support or intensive training?
• Using a free SCORM authoring tool or bigger budget software?

There’s clearly plenty to consider and lots of SCORM-compliant online learning software that will meet your needs. Here’s our guide to the top thirteen SCORM authoring tools.

 1. Elucidat

• Type: Cloud-based
• SCORM support: 1.2 / 2004
• Platform: Windows / Mac

With Elucidat, you can crowdsource your corporate elearning from hundreds of colleagues. Whatever your level of expertise, creating interactive, mobile-friendly courses is easy. Packed with features and ready-made learning blueprints, you can get up and running fast.

Elucidat is cloud-based. People can work on the same project at the same time, while you stay in control. You’re able to clone your course, so reuse, rebranding and translation are simple. And all without version control, thanks to your master course.

If you’re transitioning from PowerPoint-based training, Elucidat also enables you to quickly convert PowerPoint to SCORM-compliant content. This can save you time and effort while allowing you to reuse existing content in a new, interactive format that’s fully compatible with your LMS.

Want to learn more about how Elucidat can help you create SCORM compliant content? Book a demo!

2. Articulate Storyline 360

• Type: Desktop
• SCORM support: 1.2 / 2004
• Platform: Windows

Articulate Storyline 360 combines a series of interactive slides to create online learning content. If you know your way around PowerPoint, you have a good base knowledge to build on. If you’re experienced, you can use the tool to create customized interactions and bespoke branding options.

It’s a desktop tool, so you’ll find it easier to build content alone. An export feature speeds up localization and translation. But remember to adjust text to fit when you import your new languages.

3. Articulate Rise 360

• Type: Cloud-based
• SCORM support: 1.2 / 2004
• Platform: Windows

If you’re new to content creation, Articulate Rise 360 is a good place to start. An intuitive interface with ready-to-use templates means you can create basic mobile-friendly online training easily.

It’s cloud-based, so collaboration and review happen in one place. The ability to clone courses means you can speed up the localization and translation process.

Explore how Articulate Storyline, Rise and Elucidat shape up in this comparison and review – and decide which tool is best for you!

4. Adobe Captivate

• Type: Desktop
• SCORM support: 1.2 / 2004
• Platform: Windows / Mac

Working like PowerPoint presentations, Captivate enables you to produce basic learning content. If you’re more experienced or ready for a bit of a learning curve, you can explore the advanced features. Its screen recorder can be used for systems demos and sandpits. Mobile gestures and geo-location can produce more innovative learning.

Captivate is a desktop app, so collaboration isn’t straightforward. Publishing, sharing, reviewing, updating is time-consuming. Translation can also be laborious.

5. iSpring Suite

• Type: Desktop
• SCORM support: 1.2 / 2004
• Platform: Windows

The iSpring suite is based on PowerPoint. From simple text and graphics to more complex drag and drop questions, choose from a range of interactions to create responsive elearning courses. With a library of assets available, you have everything you need to produce content quickly.

The iSpring toolkit is desktop-based, so teamworking is inefficient. Reusing learning paths and courses can speed up your process. But if you need to update at scale, having no direct links to courses can cause issues.

See which tool best suits your needs in this full Elucidat vs iSpring Suite comparison and review.

6. Camtasia

• Type: Desktop
• SCORM support: 1.2 / 2004
• Platform: Windows / Mac

Specializing in screen recordings and video editing, Camtasia can export learning content as a SCORM package. It may not be as powerful as the other tools, but this SCORM content creator is easy to use. Demo a system, record a narration, add in some interactivity – there are lots of excellent options with this tool.

As with other desktop tools, Camtasia is best if you’re working alone.

7. Gomo

• Type: Cloud-based
• SCORM support: 1.2 / 2004
• Platform: Windows / Mac

Gomo is an authoring tool for mobile-first learning content. Ready-made templates and a quick-start wizard can help you get up to speed. Designed for content developers rather than novices, you may need to hire a specialist if you have grand plans.

It’s a cloud-based app, so collaboration happens in one place. With the option to deliver one course where people select their language, Gomo is worth considering if your organization is international.

Get the full spec on this tool in this Elucidat vs Gomo Learning comparison and review article. 

8. Knowbly

• Type: Cloud-based
• SCORM support: 1.2 / 2004
• Platform: Windows / Mac

Knowbly is a simple but powerful tool for creating mobile-friendly learning content. A standard set of tools helps you build learning packed with interaction.

Knowbly is a cloud-based tool, so has a built-in review and real-time collaboration tool. A centralized source makes localization, translations and updates easier.

9. Adapt

• Type: Desktop
• SCORM support: 1.2 / 2004
• Platform: Windows, Mac OS

Adapt is a complex online authoring tool that, while relatively easy to use, does require a certain level of technical development expertise in order to create SCORM-compliant online elearning content. 

It has an easy-to- manage asset library, a decent range of interactions and assessment features and a good selection of modern, professional content themes to choose from. Publishing SCORM releases is a quick and straightforward download.

10. Lectora Online

• Type: Cloud-based
• SCORM support: 1.2 / 2004
• Platform: Windows, Mac OS

Lectora is one of the most mature authoring tools on the market. Its younger sibling Lectora Online is a powerful HTML5 cloud-based version of the original tool. 

Unlike some of the other tools in the review, it can be more difficult to get to grips with as it is designed with experienced authors in mind. However, once you have mastered it, Lectora Online allows you to build highly-customizable and attractive corporate learning projects. Some of the best features include free access to Elearning Brothers graphics libraries and the online reviewer collaboration tool, which enables multiple stakeholders to edit content and add comments in one place.

11. Easygenerator 

• Type: Cloud-based
• SCORM support: 1.2 / 2004
• Platform: Windows, Mac OS

As the name suggests, Easygenerator is one of the most simple-to-use SCORM authoring tools in this review. It offers reasonable design functionality and interactions but may not be suitable for authors looking to create sophisticated, highly bespoke interactive digital learning. 

Easygenerator’s “co-authoring” feature is useful for collaboration between multiple stakeholders, and it has a range of great mobile-friendly responsive design features, making it easy to create multi-device compatible content.

12. DominKnow ONE

• Type: Cloud-based
• SCORM support: 1.2 / 2004
• Platform: Windows, Mac OS

DominKnow has strong responsive design capabilities and a wide range of themes and templates for you to choose from and make your own. 

Despite having a slightly complex interface, it’s generally easy to use and there are lots of useful time-saving features such as the ability to copy courses and have multiple authors collaborate on content in real-time. There is an informative product tour within the tool that provides guidance and tips on how to navigate the tool to help you get up to speed.

13. Evolve

• Type: Desktop
• SCORM support: 1.2 / 2004
• Platform: Windows

One of the best SCORM authoring tools designed for novice authors is Evolve. It allows users to build simple content quickly with a range of intuitive components and pre-built templates. 

With Evolve, authors can make changes at scale with just a few clicks and have the option whether to release the courses via web or offline. One of the biggest benefits of creating corporate elearning content in Evolve is that it’s compatible with any platform, device or operating system. 

In summary

Whether you’re new to SCORM-compliant authoring software or looking to upgrade your SCORM creator, there’s plenty of software to choose from. You’ve seen our summary of the best SCORM software out there; now, take a look for yourself.

Start creating compliant courses today with the help of SCORM-compliant blueprints. Book a demo of Elucidat and we’ll get your free trial off to a flying start!

When you get involved in creating online learning, you may hear people talk about ‘SCORM versions’ or making sure a course is ‘SCORM compliant’. But what does SCORM actually mean? What is this “Sharable Content Object Reference Model” or SCORM and what are SCORM files? There’s plenty to unpack when it comes to the different SCORM formats. Let’s go back to basics. Read on to find out more…

1. What is SCORM?
2. What is a SCORM file?
3. What are the different SCORM versions?
4. What are the alternatives to SCORM?
5. What can be tracked by SCORM?
6. What are the benefits and challenges of SCORM?
7. SCORM compliant software
8. Example SCORM courses
9. SCORM compliant LMS
10. Summary

What is SCORM?

SCORM is a way of setting up an elearning course so that it can run from any LMS (as long as the LMS is SCORM-compliant, of course). It is an acronym of Shareable Content Object Reference Model. In the same way that DVDs are created in a standardized way so they can be read by any DVD player, SCORM sets out the standardized set-up that means corporate elearning materials can be read by any LMS.

SCORM governs two things: packaging content and run-time.

• Packaging content determines how a piece of content should be physically delivered. SCORM specifies exactly how the learning content should be structured within its file so it can be properly launched, interpreted, and tracked.
• The run-time communication or data exchange specifies how the learning object “talks” to the LMS. This is how instructions like “request the learner’s name” and “tell the LMS that the learner scored 85% on this test” are passed between the learning content and the module.

To find out more about SCORM standards, SCORM packaging and SCORM compliance, check out the official SCORM website or the SCORM Wikipedia page.

What is a SCORM file?

SCOs – or Shareable Content Objects – are individual trackable pieces of digital learning, so these might be whole courses or one page. It just means something that can be individually uploaded and tracked by an LMS.

SCORM defines how online learning content should be packaged into a transferable ZIP file called a “Package Interchange File.” This is known as a SCORM file. It’s this file that needs to be set up according to the structure that SCORM standards require and including the core files that allow it to properly communicate with the LMS.

What are the different SCORM versions?

There have been a number of different versions and releases of the SCORM standards since 1999.

SCORM 1.1

This was the first version of SCORM. Before this, work had been done to draft the standards and give a preview of work to come, but this version was when SCORM became implementable. This version showed that SCORM was workable as an idea, but it highlighted several issues to be resolved in the next version.

SCORM 1.2

This version ironed out many of the problems with the first and it quickly grew in popularity. Almost all LMSs support this version and most content developers still create online learning that meets its standards. It’s likely to be around for a long time.

SCORM 2004 (sometimes known as SCORM 1.3)

This is the current release, giving content developers more control over how their corporate elearning behaves. For example, it includes a sequencing and navigation specification that lets content vendors specify how the learner can progress between SCOs.

There have actually been several iterations of SCORM 2004, each one building on and ironing out the issues of the one before, but SCORM 2004 version 3 is the most widely used.

What are the alternatives to SCORM?

The most recent version of SCORM was created in 2004, so although the standard is still widely used, its functionality is limited in terms of modern capabilities. Newer standards like xAPI offer more features to elearning authors and let them gather more types of data on how their digital learning is being used.

As Learning Expert Amy Rouse eloquently puts it in her LinkedIn post The Decline and Fall of SCORM and Why You Should Care: “SCORM is not dead, but it’s past its prime.”.

There are two main alternatives to SCORM:

AICC or Aviation Industry CBT (Computer-Based Training) Committee. These standards were set up in 1993 for CD-ROM training and further developed in 1998 to include web-based learning. The main difference between SCORM and AICC is time. It takes longer to upload content to an LMS using AICC than SCORM. Support and tracking capabilities are poorer too. However, one advantage that AICC does have over SCORM is security. These standards are more secure.

xAPI or Experience API or Tin Can API. xAPI is a protocol for tracking learning-related activity that was developed in 2013. The main difference between Tin Can API and SCORM is its ability to track learning. While SCORM learning can only be tracked within a compliant LMS, xAPI enables the recording, tracking, personalizing and improving of learning in almost any context. The only drawback is the support. This standard is gaining more traction in recent times, but it is still not as widely used as SCORM.

What can be tracked by SCORM?

As you can see, one of the key differentiators between standards is what they can track. That means what they can monitor and report back to the elearning manager. SCORM 1.2 keeps track of the following data:

• lesson_location. This is where the learner is up to in the course. It means they can be taken back to that point if they want to leave and come back later.
• suspend_data. This is a general “bucket” where any specific data you want to capture can be stored. For example, if you want to know how a learner answered a specific question, you can set up the suspend data to monitor this.
• lesson_status. This means whether the learner has passed, failed or completed the course.
• session_time and total_time. The time the learner has spent looking at the course, both in this session and overall.
• score_raw. This is the score the learner achieved for the whole module.
• mastery_score. This is the score the learner must achieve for the module to set as “passed.”
• interactions. This includes how individuals engage with the questions and the time they spend on each section, for example:

	AICC	SCORM 1.2	SCORM 2004	xAPI	cmi5
Does it offer course sequencing?	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Does it monitor: Completion Spent time Pass/fail?	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Does it offer advanced tracking (e.g., games, simulations)?	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
Can it track single scores?	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Can it track multiple scores?	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
Can it work without a web browser?	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
Is it mobile-friendly?	No	No	No	Yes	Yes

Your complete guide to SCORM

Getting started with SCORM can be daunting, but with the right tools and processes, it can be a breeze. Here’s what you need to know.

Picking the right tools for SCORM

When it comes to using SCORM, having the right tools in your toolkit is essential. Here are two key tools that will enable you to create, publish, and deliver your SCORM-compliant elearning content.

Authoring tools:

A robust authoring tool is essential for creating SCORM-compliant elearning content. Look for a tool that offers intuitive drag-and-drop interfaces, multimedia capabilities, and a wide range of interactive features. Make sure it is compatible with the SCORM version you plan to use, whether it’s SCORM 1.2 or SCORM 2004 2nd edition or SCORM 2004 4th edition.

 See how Elucidat compares to other SCORM-compliant authoring tools. 

Learning Management System (LMS):

Your LMS plays a vital role in delivering and tracking your SCORM content. Look for an LMS that is compatible with the SCORM version you plan to use and offers features like assessment tracking, completion tracking, and interaction tracking. If you have content in an older version of SCORM, it’s equally important to ensure the LMS is backwards compatible. Make sure it provides robust reporting capabilities so you can monitor learner progress and assess the effectiveness of your elearning content.

Check out the top SCORM-compliant LMSs here. 

How to create, deliver and track SCORM content

Now you’ve got your tools ready to go, here’s how to get started with SCORM like a pro

• Create engaging content:

Once you’ve chosen your SCORM authoring tool, it’s time to unleash your creativity and create some engaging elearning content. Keep in mind that SCORM supports a variety of multimedia formats, such as videos, audio, images, and interactive elements. Make your content visually appealing, interactive, and aligned with your learning objectives. 

If you’re currently relying on PowerPoint-based training, don’t worry, you can easily convert your existing slides into SCORM-compliant content with our PowerPoint to SCORM guide. This will get your content into the right format in no time.

Remember, the more engaging your content, the more memorable the learning experience!

• Organize your content into modules:

Break down your elearning content into bite-sized modules that learners can easily navigate. Each module should focus on a specific topic or learning objective, ensuring a seamless and structured learning journey. Don’t forget to add assessments or quizzes to reinforce knowledge retention and track learner progress.

• Publish as SCORM package:

Once your elearning content is ready, it’s time to publish it as a SCORM package. Choose the SCORM version that best fits your needs, whether it’s SCORM 1.2 or the more advanced SCORM 2004. With a few clicks, an authoring tool like Elucidat will package your content into a SCORM-compliant format, ready to be uploaded to your Learning Management System (LMS).

• Upload to your LMS:

Now it’s time to upload your SCORM package to your LMS. Ensure that your LMS supports SCORM standards, as this will enable seamless integration and accurate tracking of learner progress. Elucidat’s authoring tool provides easy LMS integration, allowing you to effortlessly upload your SCORM package, as well as re-release functionality making it quick and effortless to update live courses. 

• Track learner progress:

One of the greatest benefits of SCORM is its ability to track learner progress and gather valuable data. Leverage the power of SCORM to monitor completion rates, assessment scores, and learner interactions. This data will help you identify knowledge gaps, improve your elearning content, and tailor learning experiences to individual learners.

• Continuous improvement:

Don’t stop at creating and uploading your SCORM content. Regularly assess its effectiveness, gather learner feedback, and analyze the data provided by your SCORM-compliant LMS. Use these insights to refine your elearning content, make it even more impactful, and deliver outstanding learning experiences. Elucidat’s authoring tool will allow you to make updates to your courses with a single click!

By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can create SCORM-compliant elearning content that is compatible with most LMSs, while also adhering to industry best practices.

What are the benefits and challenges of SCORM?

SCORM was originally developed in 1999 when there was a need to standardize the way corporate elearning was built so it could be hosted across LMSs. Before SCORM, there was AICC, but its functionality was very limited and it’s virtually obsolete now.

Benefits

There are a number of key benefits of SCORM, which include:

• SCORM is now the most widely used protocol and if your corporate elearning is SCORM compliant, you’ll find it can be read by almost any LMS. You don’t need to spend time tailoring your learning; as long as you work to SCORM standards, you can guarantee compatibility.
• SCORM means that content can be created once and then deployed on many different systems exactly as it is. This is hugely powerful in terms of efficiency, scalability and cost-savings.
• Many online learning tools are set up to let you create SCORM-compliant packages with little technical knowledge, so creating and sharing your SCORM course is relatively easy.
• SCORM offers a solid set of tracking capabilities (as mentioned above) which gives content authors invaluable data about people who are actually using their training. It also lets you control the learner’s pace. This means you can manage your learner journey by specifying how long people should spend on an interactive element.

Challenges

One of the main challenges with SCORM is that it is getting dated. The most recent version was created in 2004 and although it’s widely used, its functionality is limited.

To counteract these limitations, a newer standard, xAPI (sometimes called Tin Can) has been developed. It uses newer technologies and, crucially, allows for the tracking of learning outside of an LMS. It allows you to gather much more data on users’ learning, including exactly how they interacted with the learning, how they scored in separate activities and how this tied to their real-world performance, too.

For more information on how the two compare, see this detailed analysis of SCORM and xAPI.

SCORM compliant software

Now that we have covered the basics, let’s talk about how you choose SCORM-compliant software?

To make SCORM, you will need to use a SCORM-compliant authoring tool and a SCORM-compliant LMS. The authoring tool creates the SCORM-compliant online learning and the LMS publishes the course content. You need to consider both elements of the corporate elearning experience.

SCORM-compliant authoring tools

A SCORM-compliant authoring tool helps you create online learning materials that, when it’s published, automatically packages itself up in a way that meets SCORM standards. This is an essential feature if you want your digital learning to run from an LMS and you want to keep track of learners’ progress.

There are plenty of authoring tools to choose from (you can see a detailed comparison of SCORM compliant authoring tools here), but here are a few examples:

• Elucidat is a fully cloud-based authoring tool, aiming to help managers easily create new courses and deploy them at scale.
• Evolve is an online authoring tool that builds HTML5-based elearning content. Courses built in this tool will work on any platform, device or system. The software is designed for novice authors, meaning it’s quick and easy to create simple content.
• Adapt is an open-source authoring tool that creates responsive HTML5 content that can be published as a SCORM download.

SCORM courses examples

Take a look at these three courses for some examples of online learning content that can easily be delivered in a SCORM-compliant format:

• Quick onboarding

This is an example of a simple one-page learning resource to get people up to speed with a new role.

• Performance improvement

This learning is structured in a way to help learners improve a particular skill, letting them use the module to create an action plan to take away. 

• In-depth process training

This example shows how a complex process can be broken down into manageable chunks.

SCORM-compliant LMS

A SCORM-compliant LMS means the LMS is set up in a way to “listen” to the information the corporate elearning modules send to it. Both the LMS and the online learning course need to be SCORM-compliant so that the data can be sent between them, and the reports can be run to see who has looked at the training and how they’ve done.

Here are some examples of SCORM-compliant Learning Management Systems:

• Docebo is a reputable LMS with a user-friendly interface to make managing learning easier.
• LearnUpon is an LMS that’s been built to be powerful, scalable, and simple to use. You can easily manage and track your SCORM compliant courses.
• Totara is an open-source LMS that lets learning managers create learning plans for their users based on tailored competencies and objectives.

You can view a detailed guide to choosing a SCORM-compliant LMS here.

Summary

SCORM 2004 is still the gold standard of online learning compatibility. If you create your elearning package following SCORM 2004 protocols, you can be assured it will be read and understood by almost any LMS. However, its features are limited. With learning becoming more varied and innovative and with an interest in more granular data reporting on learners’ behaviors, xAPI is becoming more and more popular.

We can help you do it!

Start producing SCORM-compliant and xAPI enabled digital training with Elucidat. Book your personalized demo today, and we’ll get your free trial off to a flying start!

The decision about which content standards to use when producing corporate elearning content will affect the longevity of your content and systems. Whilst SCORM is the most widely used digital learning standard, xAPI opens up a wealth of opportunity for tracking, personalizing and improving learning experiences, so if you’re comparing SCORM vs Tin Can xAPI, look no further…

Both SCORM and Tin Can – now more commonly known as xAPI – are communications protocols for tracking learning related activity. They provide a framework and structure to pass data and information between learning content and technologies. But the extent and flexibility to which SCORM and xAPI are able to do this differs significantly.

What is SCORM?

SCORM (which stands for Sharable Content Object Reference Model), was originally developed in 1999.  Back then, elearning content could only be used on one system because different technologies didn’t have a way of speak to one another to pass across information reliably. So, a new protocol was established for tracking learning activity… SCORM.

To explore SCORM in greater detail, check out our detailed guide in our post: What Is SCORM?

3 key benefits of SCORM to consider

SCORM offers a reliable and established tracking solution for elearning that has been widely adopted by many organizations. While it may have limitations when it comes to tracking modern learning experiences, it remains a popular choice for many elearning providers and organizations. Here are 3 core benefits: 

1. Practicality: SCORM is designed to be practical, meaning that it can work seamlessly with different LMSs and authoring tools. This makes it easier to create and deliver elearning content across different platforms, without having to worry about compatibility issues.
2. Standardization: SCORM is a widely recognized and accepted standard for elearning content. This means that it’s easier to create and share content across different organizations, as long as they use a compatible LMS or authoring tool. This can save time and resources, as you don’t need to create customized content for each organization.
3. Cost-effective: SCORM is a cost-effective solution for elearning, as it’s widely available and supported by many LMS and authoring tool vendors. This means that you don’t need to invest in expensive proprietary solutions, and can instead focus on creating quality content that can be used across different platforms.

SCORM didn’t age well

As a content standard for corporate elearning, SCORM was revolutionary in enabling organizations to deliver and track learning taking place within the LMS. But, today learning happens everywhere – and SCORM doesn’t offer a way to capture this information.

Which is why we are comparing SCORM vs Tin Can xAPI.

Enter xAPI…

What is xAPI?

xAPI is a corporate elearning software that collects data tracking and monitoring of the activities of learners. Since its release in April 2013, the Experience API (also known as xAPI or Tin-Can) has knocked SCORM off its long established perch. This API offers a consistent format to capture data.

Like SCORM, xAPI is a protocol for tracking learning related activity. The key difference is that xAPI allows you to track learning in almost any context, not just in the LMS.

xAPI enables the recording, tracking, personalizing and improving of learning activities, both on and offline. It offers a more nuanced picture of how people engage with blended learning experiences. And, xAPI can also be used to make direct links between people’s learning experiences and their on-the-job performance.

As well as being better defined than the SCORM API, xAPI also uses newer technologies. This makes it easier to use, more accessible to developers and more robust.

A real-life example of xAPI: Personalizing training for improved Sales performance

Imagine you want to improve the performance of your sales team by improving close rates. You’d want to know what makes the high performers so successful, and how you can train others to do the same. xAPI can help!

Understanding how to use xAPI gives you the key to unlocking an improved understanding of training success and learner progress. Using xAPI you could pull together data from a range of different sources into your LRS (Learning record store), for example:

• Pipeline performance data from your Sales CRM
• Elearning engagement data from scenario-based sales assessments
• Data from call listening and coaching sessions

Together, these pieces of data can paint the bigger picture, helping you to identify specific training needs. For example, you could trigger a learning intervention based on a rep losing three sales in a row. xAPI helps you to catch potential issues early on.

Check out 3 great examples of xAPI being used to deliver learning with real-life impact.

Five benefits of xAPI compared to SCORM

If you are considering xAPI over SCORM, you likely already have a Learning Record Store (LRS) in place.

Compared to SCORM, xAPI is more versatile and flexible, as it can track learning experiences from various sources such as mobile devices, simulations, games, and even real-world experiences into your LRS. Here are some of the core benefits:

1. Flexibility: xAPI better reflects modern learning experiences that happen anywhere, at any time. 
2. Tracking: xAPI gives richer insights that will allow you to identify and understand learner behavior, and how your learning content is performing and can be improved.
3. Personalized Learning: With xAPI, you can track individual learner progress, identify their unique learning needs, and personalize learning experiences accordingly. This can lead to better engagement, higher retention rates, and improved performance outcomes.
4. Scalability: As your elearning offering grows, xAPI can scale with it. It can handle large amounts of data from different sources and provide a centralized repository for all your learning data, making it easier to manage and analyze.
5. Future-proof: xAPI is designed to be future-proof, meaning that it can adapt to new technologies and learning experiences as they emerge. This allows you to stay ahead of the curve and provide innovative learning experiences to your learners.

Some limitations of using xAPI instead of SCORM:

1. Implementation: Implementing xAPI can be more complex compared to SCORM, as it requires a deeper understanding of the technical specifications and protocols involved. This may require additional resources and expertise.
2. Compatibility: While xAPI is designed to be practical, not all LMS and authoring tools support it. This may limit the ability of certain platforms, especially those that rely on SCORM-based solutions.
3. Learning Curve: Switching from SCORM to xAPI may require some learning curve for users and administrators who are not familiar with the new standard. This may lead to resistance and reluctance to adopt the new technology, which can impact the overall success of the e-learning program.

Ultimately, the choice between xAPI and SCORM will depend on the specific needs and goals of the organization, as well as the technical capabilities and resources available.

Sometimes it doesn’t have to be a choice either. Elucidat allows you to create courses that can both be hosted as a SCORM course on an LMS but also send xAPI tracking data to an LRS. So the same course can be SCORM and xAPI compatible, best of both worlds.

What can you track? SCORM vs Tin Can xAPI

As mentioned, xAPI enables you to capture a far richer picture of learning taking place than SCORM. The table below gives you an overview.

	SCORM	xAPI
Completion
Time
Pass/Fail
A single score
Multiple scores
Detailed test results
Games & simulations
Informal learning
Real-world performance
Offline learning
Interactive learning
Adaptive learning
Blended learning
Long-term learning
Team-based learning

Leveraging xAPI in your learning team

xAPI opens up a world of possibilities for delivering people-centered elearning because it gives you the opportunity to much better understand learning behavior and the effectiveness of learning experiences.

Are your learning technologies xAPI enabled?

Modern digital learning technologies, like Elucidat’s authoring platform, are built with xAPI at the heart in order to enable integration with other systems and to support customers in taking a data driven approach to learning. This will enable you to connect the dots and perfect your digital learning strategy.

Making sure your team has the right tools for the job is fundamental.

What would you love to know about your audience?

The chances are you could be getting a whole lot more insight about your learning programs and delivering a whole lot more impact than you do right now.

So, get together with your team and start discussing what additional insight you’d love to have about your learners and learning programs. It’s likely that xAPI can help!

Still stuck using PowerPoint for your content? Check out this PowerPoint to SCORM guide to turn your slides into engaging online learning. Looking for a Powerpoint Import feature? Elucidat has it! Book a demo and see it in action.

Designing SCORM compliant elearning means that it’s set up in a way that lets it work with any of the major LMSs. Another set of standards that has the same aim is AICC. SCORM is much more widely used today, but that doesn’t mean we can forget about AICC entirely. When it comes to SCORM vs AICC, though, how do you choose which is best for you? Let’s look at both in more detail.

What is SCORM?

SCORM is a set of packaging standards that means once your elearning is set up with the right file structure, uploading a course to the LMS is just a matter of uploading a .zip file. SCORM stands for Shareable Content Object Reference Model.

There are several versions of the SCORM standards. The most widely used and supported are SCORM 1.2 and SCORM 2004 (also know as SCORM 1.3)

What is AICC?

AICC is a standard for developing corporate elearning courses. AICC stands for Aviation Industry CBT (Computer-Based Training) Committee. When these standards were originally set up in 1993, they only focused on CD-ROM based training. Web-based training was factored in later, in 1998.

AICC talks to the LMS by sending HTTP messages and then interpreting the responses the LMS sends back. Uploading content to an LMS using AICC is usually a lengthier process than using SCORM.

SCORM vs AICC

So how do SCORM and AICC compare? Whether you choose SCORM or AICC, there are pros and cons to both standards. Here, we delve deeper into the features of both, shining a light on what you can expect to experience from them.

SCORM strengths

It’s easy to follow. Many elearning authoring tools let you create a course with SCORM output without any programming knowledge.

It lets you control learner pace. You can manage your learner journey to an extent by specifying how long they should spend on an interactive element.

It’s widely supported. SCORM is the most popular set of standards for course creation and LMSs, so if you have SCORM compliant elearning, you’ll have no shortage of LMSs to choose from.

SCORM weaknesses

There’s a limit to what it can track. SCORM lets you monitor basic data like whether a learner has completed a module and their overall score, but it won’t let you track anything more detailed than that.

It doesn’t work offline. SCORM elearning needs an internet connection. If it drops out, learners will be dropped out of their course. Elearning SCORM course only work when they’re launched from an LMS, so web or mobile based courses are no good either.

It was designed for Flash. SCORM was originally intended for Flash-based courses, which aren’t a popular option now that support for Flash is fading. HTML5 courses can be created for SCORM compliant learning management systems, but it limits their functionality.

AICC strengths

It’s very secure.  AICC supports highly secure HTTPS data transfers between the content and the LMS and AICC content can also be kept on a separate server to its LMS.

AICC weaknesses

It can’t track progress. AICC’s tracking and reporting mechanism are very limited.

It’s hard to find a compliant LMS. LMSs which claim to be AICC compliant may not actually work when it comes to upload your course. Manual code tweaks often need to be made to ensure compatibility.

It’s unpopular. AICC is a very dated set of standards now, so support is limited. Both LMS and content providers are generally opting to leave it behind now.

What about xAPI?

xAPI (also known as Tin Can) is a much newer set of standards (developed in 2011) that aimed to significantly improve corporate elearning standardization.

xAPI works by defining learning activities using “noun, verb, object” statements (for example “Jennifer passed an assessment.”). When a user performs a learning activity, the xAPI activity statement is recorded and stored in a learning record store (LRS).

xAPI is a step up from SCORM in terms of what it offers. It works offline so users can complete learning wherever they are. It doesn’t even need a web browser to run. It also offers much more sophisticated reporting, keeping track of a whole range of user activities from where they clicked their mouse to blended learning courses they’ve completed.

xAPI’s main drawback is that it isn’t yet widely supported. This means it’s not as easy to find a compatible LMS as when you’re creating a SCORM compliant module. But this is likely to be a short term issue – its popularity is growing every day.

To find out more about how xAPI and SCORM compare, take a look at this detailed SCORM vs xAPI comparison.

Summary

To give you an overview, here’s a bird’s eye view of each software standard alongside its strengths and weaknesses!

	AICC	SCORM	xAPI
Ease of use	Average	Good	Good
Tracking capabilities	Poor	Average	Good
Support	Poor	Good	Average – but growing
Security	Good	Average	Good

SCORM is streets ahead of AICC, and is still the main player in the industry, but xAPI offers some truly exciting possibilities, so support for this new standard is only likely to grow.

Try it for yourself

Start producing SCORM-compliant elearning content, with xAPI driven analytics today with Elucidat. Book a personalized demo today, and we’ll get your free trial off to a flying start.

Stuck Using PowerPoint? This PowerPoint to SCORM guide can help you quickly convert your slides into SCORM-compliant content, unlocking all the benefits of tracking, interactivity, and LMS compatibility

xAPI is a game changer. It can help you to identify where learning interventions might be needed, measure the impact of blended learning experiences, and identify how they could be improved. In this blog we take a closer look at what xAPI is and share some real-world xAPI examples for workplace learning to get you inspired.

What is xAPI?

The Experience API (also known as xAPI or Tin-Can) enables the recording, tracking, personalizing and improving of learning activity, both on and offline.

xAPI has been revolutionizing the impact of learning programs by offering a more nuanced picture of how people engage with blended learning experiences. It can also be used to make direct links between people’s learning experiences and their on-the-job performance.

If you care about supporting real learning that’s truly people-centered, then you should consider xAPI as a way of measuring it!

Why forward thinking organizations choose xAPI over SCORM

Since its release in April 2013, xAPI has knocked SCORM off its long-established perch for tracking learning related activity, and with good reason.

You can read more about xAPI vs SCORM in this article.

xAPI better reflects modern learning experiences

The modern learner learns as needed, anywhere, anytime.  SCORM only allows you to track desktop based activity in your Learning Management System (LMS), whereas xAPI enables you pull together data from multiple sources into a Learning Record Store (LRS).

“Only a small fraction of learning can be tracked via SCORM in the LMS. xAPI gives you opportunities for enhanced understanding of learning beyond the LMS, potentially revealing where effective learning is happening on the job, via mobile apps, through coaching and beyond. It offers opportunities to much better understand what successful behaviours look like across a range of experiences and interactions, and then reverse engineer improved training from there.”

James Parry, Learning Solutions Architect at ZS

xAPI gives richer insights

xAPI moved beyond this simplistic, black and white approach. It opens up the potential for getting far more granular insights that can be used to identify learning behaviors, improve performance support and perfect your digital learning strategy.

4 real-world xAPI examples

When you read up about xAPI training examples, it’s clear that it allows you to see much more about how people engage with learning experiences. But real-world examples of xAPI being used are hard to find. So, here’s some concrete examples to give you some inspiration…

Example 1: Connecting training data to healthcare KPIs to save lives

When it comes to responding to a heart attack, known as a ‘Code Blue’, the speed of response is vital. It can be the difference between life and death. MedStar Health, the largest healthcare provider in the Washington D.C/Maryland region, put a blended learning program together to help reduce their resuscitation team’s response times.

The program involved online learning via an LMS, in-person simulations and use of a defibrillator training app. Data on response times and clinical outcomes were held in another system.

Using xAPI they were able to aggregate data in their LRS (Watershed) from all of these touchpoints:

• Information on course completion
• Usage data from the training app
• Observation data from simulations
• Results from ‘Code Blue’ incidents

By bringing these different sources of data together they have been able to answer questions like: Do good performances during ‘Code Blue’ simulations lead to good performances during real ‘Code Blues’?  As a result they are able to identify where to focus training efforts to improve performance and, ultimately, save lives.

You can’t get more real-life impact than that!

This xAPI example is taken from the Watershed MedStar Health case study, which you can read here.

Example 2: Personalizing training to improve sales performance

• What makes some sales people better at closing deals than others?
• Why do some reps manage to get higher average order value?
• And crucially, how can you train others to do the same?

When setting out to develop a sales training program you’ll probably be faced with questions like these and a lot of opinions about the answers.

Using xAPI you could pull together:

• Performance data from your CRM (e.g. Salesforce)
• Engagement with scenario-based training and assessments (like this Elucidat example)
• Data from call listening and coaching sessions

Separately, these pieces of data aren’t significant enough to be meaningful, but together, this data can help you paint the bigger picture; identifying specific training needs and personalizing experiences based on sales performance.

For example, you could trigger a learning intervention based on a rep losing three sales in a row. By using data to trigger and personalize what happens next, you can spot and address potential issues early on.

Example 3: Linking L&D to performance and talent management

How do you know who within your organization would be best suited for a role?

James Parry, Learning Solutions Architect at ZS shares his insights:

“If you know what skills and attributes are needed to be successful in a role, you can map these into a simulated environment that drives assessment data, via xAPI into an LRS, to support talent management.

Being able to predict successful behaviour potential in a particular role is highly valuable. Simultaneously offering learning and development pathways to support a learner journey towards that role is made possible by leveraging xAPI and converging data from multiple sources and experiences.”

Example 4: Using feedback to improve experiences

Capturing what your audience are saying can provide richer insights than ever before. So, for example, you might ask your audience for their perspective on an issue and feed the results into a word cloud to show which sentiments are most common.

As the xAPI example below shows, the data you get back from that can actually show you something quite powerful about how your workforce think or feel about a certain topic. You might even use this information to spot gaps in your learning and development plans.

xAPI can allow you to get even more insight. Consider the example of a learning program designed to support improvements in customer service.

As part of this, you have on-the-job support resources that the Customer Success team can dip into as and when they need to find answers to questions. Tracking pass or fail doesn’t make sense in this scenario, so you build in a free-text entry exit survey to gauge how useful the resources are and to get suggestions for how they could be improved.

Using xAPI, you could feed this free-text information back into your LRS and:

• Use AI to analyze the sentiment of responses to exit surveys and identify trends to inform improvements and new resources.
• Look at whether engagement with performance support resources improves customer feedback scores (which you could also feed into your LRS as xAPI statements).

The future of xAPI in the elearning industry

The real-life xAPI examples above are just the tip of the iceberg. The possibilities for using xAPI to improve people-centered learning experiences are endless, yet they appear to be relatively untapped by L&D teams today. Will this change in the next few years?

Well, despite not being included in Donald Taylors Global Sentiment Survey in 2018, xAPI was the only stand out suggestion from participants about what was missing from the survey. Interest is brewing!

Looking at what successful learning technology companies are investing in is also illuminating…

Modern authoring tools like Elucidat, are built with xAPI at the heart in order to support users to take a data-driven approach to producing corporate elearning content.

Other platforms, such as Filtered, have used xAPI when building software because of the potential this opens up:

“We chose xAPI as a reporting format for magpie for two main reasons: 1) so we could focus on the recommendation technology and use a 3rd party LRS as a reporting and integration solution and 2) using xAPI helps us with buyers who either have already introduced an LRS and need xAPI compatible tools, or who want to try an LRS and get started with data-driven learning. It’s also relatively easy to integrate xAPI data into leading reporting engines like Tableau which most top tier companies are using”.

Toby Harris, Solution Architect at Filtered.

And, you only have to look at the apps you can connect via xapiapps to see the wealth of sources you could be pulling data from to inform and track impact of learning.

xAPI and your learning team

What would your team love to know about your audience? What opportunities are you missing out on by not having this information? Finally, what impact could connecting the dots have on the impact you could have with your training and learning programs?

The chances are that you could be getting a whole lot more insight, and a whole lot more impact, than you do right now.

At first look, xAPI might seem quite technical and daunting. But once you have grasped the concept of using xAPI to pull data together in your LRS to get a rounded view of learning experiences and related performance…well that’s something any forward-thinking learning manager can get excited about!

xAPI and Elucidat

Elucidat was designed from the outset to be xAPI compatible and as a result, you can get valuable insights into engagement with your content. With Elucidat you can track a range of things, from the devices being used to access online learning, to how people respond to different questions. As well as seeing this data in Elucidat’s analytics dashboards, you can feed it into your LRS using xAPI to analyze it alongside other data sources.

Discover the top 10 best learning analytics and find more out about:

• The learning data sources you could use
• How to analyze your learning analytics data
• A 3-stage strategy to make data-driven learning design part of your team’s day-to-day