10 Tips to Create Extraordinary SCORM Courses

Creating engaging and effective e-learning courses can be a real challenge. It's more than just dumping information online; it's about crafting an experience that sticks with the learner. This is where SCORM comes into play, allowing your courses to be used across a wide range of platforms. But just being SCORM-compliant isn't enough to make your courses shine. This blog post will equip you with ten tips to elevate your SCORM courses from ordinary to extraordinary.

What is SCORM?

It stands for Sharable Content Object Reference Model, a set of technical standards that ensure your e-learning content can be seamlessly shared and reused across various Learning Management Systems (LMS). Think of it as a common language that allows your course to "talk" to different LMS platforms. This is a huge advantage because it means you don't have to rebuild your course every time you switch systems. A study found that a whopping 62% of businesses using e-learning for training rely on SCORM-based courses. SCORM helps create consistency in content delivery and makes it easy for learners to access material anytime, anywhere, and on any device.

1: Know Your Learner Like the Back of Your Hand

You wouldn’t write a novel without knowing who you are writing for, right? The same principle applies to e-learning. Before you begin building your SCORM course, you need to really understand your target audience. This means diving deep into their:

• Skill Levels: Are they beginners, experts, or somewhere in between?
• Preferences: Do they prefer videos, text, interactive elements, or a mix?
• Learning Styles: Do they learn best through visual, auditory, or kinesthetic experiences?
• Needs: What gaps in knowledge or skills are you aiming to fill?

Tailoring your content to your audience guarantees relevance and significantly improves engagement. When content resonates with learners, they are much more likely to absorb it and apply it.

2: Interactive Learning for Enhanced Engagement

Gone are the days of passive learning, where students simply read through walls of text. Now, we need to actively engage learners. Incorporate a variety of interactive elements into your SCORM courses, such as:

• Quizzes: These are a simple way to check knowledge and provide instant feedback.
• Simulations: Allow learners to practice real-world scenarios in a safe environment.
• Drag-and-Drop Activities: Keep learners engaged with hands-on tasks.
• Branching Scenarios: Guide learners through customized paths depending on their choices.
• Discussions: Fosters collaboration and knowledge sharing.
• Gamification: Add elements like points, badges, and leaderboards to boost motivation.

These features not only make the content more interesting, but also reinforce learning by encouraging active participation.

3: Microlearning: Bite-Sized Chunks, Big Impact

Forget those long, drawn-out training sessions. Microlearning is where it's at now! Break down complex topics into easily digestible modules or lessons. These bite-sized portions of content help learners absorb information more efficiently and make it easier for them to revisit specific sections as required. Think of it as building a puzzle; each piece is small, but together they form a clear picture. This is especially great for online learning because it's easy to get distracted.

4: Write Simply, Communicate Effectively

Clarity is paramount when creating your SCORM courses. Avoid jargon, unless it is industry-specific and your learners are fully acquainted with it. Use simple language throughout your content to avoid confusion. Here are a few key points:

• Short Sentences: Get to the point quickly.
• Active Voice: Use active rather than passive voice for a more direct approach.
• Clear Instructions: Make sure your instructions are simple to follow.
• Avoid Unnecessary Jargon: If you use jargon, explain it!

By making your content simple to understand, you make learning more accessible and engaging for your learners.

5: Choosing the Right SCORM Authoring Tool

The authoring tool you use is like the foundation of your SCORM course. It’s essential to choose SCORM-compliant tools. It should have features for creating multimedia, track progress, and measure results. There are many authoring tools available, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. Some of the popular ones include:

1. EzyCourse: EzyCourse is the best SCORM-compliant LMS platform, includes student progress tracking and resume functionality for SCORM. Plus, you can track scores, progress, pass/fail status, and much more without any manual effort. You'll found everything in one place like, personalized learning paths, fun gamification, easy-to-use analytics, active community feeds, live classes, attendance tracking, and super simple SCORM course creation. Perfect for educators and course creators looking to keep things smooth and hassle-free!
2. LearnWorlds: This platform lets you upload your SCORM files and HTML5 packages straight into your courses. Moreover, you can create an engaging learning space to allow your students to interact in a community feed.?
3. EdApp: As a LMS and an authoring tool, EdApp lets you import in SCORM. You can take your beautifully designed courses out of the platform’s content management and course development features. Likewise, you can import courses made elsewhere into EdApp so you can improve upon them.
4. Docebo: A cloud-based LMS used by large organizations like Thomson Reuters and Bloomberg.
5. iSpring Suite: Integrates with PowerPoint, which makes it great for those familiar with Microsoft Office.
6. Litmos: A cloud-based LMS with a focus on ease of use and a built-in authoring tool.
7. Adobe Captivate: Known for its responsive design and ability to build complex interactions.

Try out trial versions to see which one is the best fit before committing.

6: SCORM Versions: Choosing the Correct One

SCORM has evolved over time, leading to different versions, each with unique features and capabilities. The most popular versions are SCORM 1.2 and SCORM 2004.

• SCORM 1.2: The oldest widely adopted version, it includes basic tracking and multimedia support.
• SCORM 2004: A major update with improved sequencing and navigation rules, enabling more sophisticated learning paths.

SCORM 2.0 is the most recent and enhances the capabilities of previous versions. Also take note of xAPI (Experience API). It enables tracking learning experiences that goes beyond conventional e-learning, such as simulations and mobile devices. When choosing a SCORM version, consider:

• Compatibility with your LMS: Check what versions your LMS and authoring tool support.
• Functionality: Older versions like SCORM 1.2 lack advanced tracking features that newer versions offer.
• Future Outlook: Always keep in mind the longevity of the SCORM version as it changes with time.

7: Multimedia is a Must, But Use it Wisely

Multimedia is great for engagement, but you need to use it strategically. Don't just add video for the sake of it. Make sure your multimedia content enhances the learning experience. Here are some ways you can do that:

• Videos: Use them for lectures, instructional demonstrations, and case studies.
• Images: Use them to illustrate concepts and make content more visually engaging.
• Audio: Use voiceovers to supplement text, podcasts for deeper dives, and music for a more dynamic experience.
• Animation: Use animations, interactive simulations, and games to make training interesting and active.
• Interactive elements: Use quizzes, surveys, and presentations that require user interaction.

Remember, high quality is key. The right visuals and audio can significantly improve knowledge retention.

8: Course Navigation: Make it Intuitive

Just like navigating a website, learners should be able to easily move through your SCORM course. Make sure that it’s simple for them to understand and that the content is laid out logically. A bad user experience can quickly frustrate learners, leading to disengagement.

• Clear Structure: Each section should have a clear beginning, middle, and end.
• Consistent Navigation: Ensure buttons and menus remain the same throughout the course.
• Progress Indicators: Make it obvious where learners are in the course and how far they have to go.
• Feedback Options: Allow learners to provide feedback and ask questions.
• Accessibility: Make sure that the course is accessible for people with disabilities.

9: Testing, Testing, 1, 2, 3!

Before you release your SCORM course into the world, rigorous testing is essential. This ensures that everything works as expected across a range of devices and learning management systems. Here's what you should test:

• Functionality: Do all the buttons work properly? Do quizzes score correctly?
• LMS Compatibility: Upload your course to a variety of LMS platforms to ensure it loads without any glitches.
• User Experience: Get real users to test the course and provide feedback on navigation and usability.
• Mobile Responsiveness: Ensure the course works on different devices with different screen sizes.
• Accessibility: Ensure that the course is accessible for everyone including people with disabilities.

Use debugging tools that are in many authoring programs to effectively troubleshoot runtime issues. Keep logs of the issues encountered while testing.

10: A SCORM-Compliant Learning Management System (LMS)

A SCORM-compliant LMS is a must if you’re serious about delivering high quality online training. The LMS is the backbone of your training program, and you should make sure that you have a good foundation. Make sure the platform that you choose is compatible with the SCORM version that you are using.

• Compatibility: Verify that the LMS supports the SCORM versions that your courses are authored in (SCORM 1.2, 2004).
• User-Friendly Interface: Choose a platform that is easy for both learners and administrators to use.
• Responsive Design: opt for an LMS that offers a mobile-friendly interface to accommodate users on various devices.
• Reporting Features: Look for an LMS with solid reporting capabilities that enable you to track learner progress and generate detailed analytics.

Beyond the Basics: Troubleshooting and Alternatives

Even with the best practices in place, SCORM issues can crop up. Here are some common problems and how to address them:

• SCORM Package Not Loading: Check file structure and compatibility between SCORM version and LMS.
• Tracking Problems: Verify proper API initialization and test in different browsers.
• Content Display Issues: Check your media formats and coding, and use HTML5 over Flash for better device compatibility.

While SCORM is still king, other standards exist:

• xAPI (Experience API): Tracks broader learning activities like offline or mobile learning experiences.
• AICC (Aviation Industry CBT Committee): An older standard, but may be relevant in legacy systems.
• LTI (Learning Tools Interoperability): Allows easy integration between learning tools within an LMS.

Conclusion

Creating extraordinary SCORM courses requires a blend of technical proficiency and creative design. By focusing on your learner, using interactive elements, adopting microlearning, utilizing clear language, selecting the right authoring tool, and rigorously testing your courses, you can make sure that the courses that you are putting out are at the highest quality. Remember, SCORM compatibility is only one step; the real magic happens when you create an engaging, informative, and memorable experience that has a lasting impact on your learners.