Digital education unlocks vast possibilities for learners and the educational sector. The creation of online tools such as educational apps and systems for managing learning, known as LMS, is helping the global education and training field. However, is there a way to ensure that these digital teaching methods are created and shared consistently? SCORM is the answer to it. 

The concept of SCORM compliant learning was introduced in the year 2000 and was originally designed to ensure that content works well on all systems used for teaching and learning online. It was effective for quite some time.

This article examines what to expect from SCORM standards in 2024. We’ll discuss the trends, technological advancements, and changes in learning requirements.

The Current State of SCORM Compliance in 2024

SCORM, which offers a standardized framework to guarantee smooth communication between e-learning content and Learning Management Systems (LMS), has been an integral aspect of eLearning since its inception. SCORM will continue to be a major force in 2024, particularly in the corporate training, higher education, and government sectors where dependable and regular content delivery is crucial.

SCORM compliant content standards are still appreciated for their cross-platform compatibility, reusability, and accessibility.

Despite the emergence of newer standards like cmi5 and xAPI (Experience API), SCORM continues to maintain a sizable portion of the industry. Its resilience and the vital role it plays in maintaining consistency and reliability across a range of learning situations are highlighted by its durability. 

However, this raises an urgent question: how will SCORM change to be relevant in a digital environment that is always changing?

Emerging Trends Influencing SCORM Compliance

Big changes are coming to SCORM standards in 2024! These new trends are driven by learners who desire more flexible, engaging, and intelligent online educational experiences.

• Adaptive Learning and Personalization

The real key to online education’s future is creating learning experiences that are perfectly suited to each student’s unique needs. Learners today crave customized lessons that cater to their unique needs, preferences, and progress. While SCORM has been great at making educational materials compatible, it’s limited when it comes to tailoring lessons for individual students. That’s why there’s a growing interest in upgrading SCORM or blending it with other tech-based approaches that can adapt to each learner’s needs.

• Mobile Learning and Accessibility

The growing dependence on mobile devices for educational purposes has highlighted the need for better accessibility. SCORM compliant content must be easily accessible on a range of devices, such as smartphones, tablets, or laptops without compromising on interactivity and functionality that users expect from desktop experiences. As we move into 2024, there is an increased emphasis on enhancing SCORM’s mobile compatibility to ensure that all learners, including those with disabilities, have equal access to content.

• Data Analytics and Learning Insights

Data-driven decision-making is becoming increasingly crucial in e-learning. Learning and development specialists are increasingly seeking more detailed insights into how learners interact with content, how engaged they are, and how well they perform. SCORM, while effective in capturing fundamental metrics like completion rates and scores, doesn’t quite meet the growing demand for in-depth analytics that today’s advanced e-learning platforms require.

Moving forward, the future of SCORM compliance might involve integrating more sophisticated data-tracking features, potentially working alongside xAPI, to provide a more comprehensive view of the learning journey.

Technological Advancements Shaping SCORM’s Future

Multiple technological developments have proven promising to influence the future of SCORM compliance in 2024 and beyond. These advancements are also stretching the limits of what SCORM can do, making it clear that updates will be necessary for it to stay relevant.

• Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning 

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are drastically changing the world of online learning, enabling more intelligent content delivery, automated grading, and instant feedback. When looking at SCORM compliance in 2024, it’s important to understand how AI and ML can be integrated into online learning modules to create a more interactive and adaptable learning environment. For example, AI-powered content can dynamically adjust based on a learner’s performance, providing a level of personalization and responsiveness that traditional SCORM packages may struggle to achieve.

• Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality

Virtual and augmented reality are becoming widely used in online education, providing captivating and immersive learning experiences. However, SCORM’s ability to effectively manage content for these technologies is quite restricted. As these technologies continue to gain popularity in 2024, it will be crucial for SCORM to either adapt or be complemented by new standards that can handle the complexities of these advanced learning environments.

• Blockchain Technology

Blockchain technology has the potential to transform how educational qualifications are stored, verified, and distributed.SCORM compliant learning offers a more secure and open blockchain system for tracking learners’ accomplishments. This would enable credentials to be easily moved between various platforms and organizations. While still developing, the pairing of blockchain and SCORM compliant systems is going to be a game-changer in 2024 and beyond.

Challenges Ahead SCORM in 2024

SCORM still matters, but it’s up against some big challenges that could affect its future.

• Compatibility with Modern Learning Standards

Emerging standards like xAPI and cmi5 may impose a challenge to SCORM’s flexibility and advanced data capabilities, making it less effective in supporting complex, data-driven learning experiences for today’s learners.

• Integration with New Technologies

Integrating AI, VR, and blockchain could revolutionize SCORM, but it also puts obstacles, requiring adaptation to stay competitive in the rapidly evolving e-learning landscape.

• Inflexibility in Content Updates

Updating SCORM compliant content can be challenging due to the cumbersome process of re-packaging and distributing content, which is crucial in today’s fast-paced world.

Opportunities for SCORM in 2024 and Beyond

Despite the obstacles, SCORM has huge growth potential and will remain a vital part of online learning.

• Collaboration with Emerging Standards

Instead of trying to compete with newer standards like xAPI, and cmi5, SCORM could work alongside them by emphasizing its strong points—such as being dependable, compatible with different systems, and easy to use. At the same time, xAPI could take care of more advanced tasks like tracking data and analyzing it. This teamwork could lead to a stronger and more flexible system for online learning.

• Expansion into New Markets

As online education keeps growing worldwide, there are chances for SCORM to enter new areas, especially in places where online learning is just starting. By offering a reliable and well-known standard, SCORM can help these areas in creating and providing top-notch online learning materials.

The Future of SCORM Compliance: A Vision for 2024 and Beyond

Looking ahead, it’s evident that SCORM compliance will remain a vital component in the e-learning ecosystem. Yet, to keep pace with the evolving needs of today’s learners and the swiftly changing digital landscape, SCORM will need to adapt.

In the coming years, especially in 2024 and beyond, SCORM is expected to integrate with advanced technologies, align with emerging standards, and expand into new markets in 2024 and beyond, shaping the future of digital education.

Conclusion 

The rise of SCORM compliance within online learning platforms is poised to open up remarkable learning opportunities in the coming years. Understanding the pivotal trends that SCORM compliance brings to the digital learning landscape is becoming increasingly straightforward.

In a nutshell, there’s no better time than now to invest in SCORM compliant services that provide standardized digital learning methodologies.