ADL Releases Version 1.1 of the Sharable Content Object Reference Model (SCORM)

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January 16, 2001

ADL Releases Version 1.1 of the Sharable Content Object Reference Model (SCORM)

WASHINGTON, D.C., January 16, 2001 – The Advanced Distributed Learning Co-Laboratory (ADL Co-Lab) has achieved a major milestone in the development of common open-architecture specifications for “net-centric” learning.

The ADL Initiative is a collaborative effort between government, industry, and academia, to establish a common framework that permits the interoperability of learning tools and content on a global scale. The Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Department of Labor, and the National Guard have established the ADL Co-Lab as a forum for cooperative research, development and assessment of new learning technology prototypes, guidelines, and specifications. After extensive cooperation with the IMS, IEEE, and AICC, the ADL Co-Lab released version 1.0 of the Sharable Courseware Object Model (SCORM) in January of 2000. Over the past twelve months, the ADL Co-Lab has conducted several “PlugFest” events with industry, academia, the military, and international standards groups, to assess the viability of the initial SCORM specification. This series of PlugFest events provided ADL partners with the opportunity to synchronize the evolution and convergence of commercial authoring tools, learning management systems, and web-based courses with the emerging open-architecture specification.

Today’s release of this version 1.1 of the SCORM marks the end of the beta-testing phase of ADL and the beginning of the implementation phase. The specification has been widely vetted, updated, and clarified, and is now deemed sufficiently stable to serve as the foundation for large-scale development of ADL tools and content.

Supporting Statements:

“The Office of the Secretary of Defense is very proud of the hundreds of people in DoD, other federal agencies, academia, the private sector, and other nations that have contributed to the development of this seminal specification. Their hard work and personal sacrifice not only increases the readiness of the U.S. military, but also establishes the foundation for a new global e-Learning market.”

Donald B. Johnson

Director, Advanced Distributed Learning Initiative Office of the Secretary of Defense

“With this new release of the SCORM, the Advanced Distributed Learning initiative has once again demonstrated its critical leadership role in bringing the distance learning community together on the development of a common standard. As the distance learning community embraces this new standard, we take another major step forward in moving closer to our common vision of lifelong learning, anyone, anywhere, anytime for the Nation’s workforce.”

Roland G. Droitsch

Office of Policy U.S. Department of Labor

“SCORM Version 1.1 brings us even closer to standardizing the tools and methods for distributed learning. Distributed learning will play an increasingly important role in the Guard’s efforts to train and retain its soldiers in the face of force reductions, structural changes, and budget constraints. By establishing common industry specifications and guidelines for the development and delivery of courseware, SCORM enhances the Guard’s ability to maintain force readiness, while strengthening communications and promoting strong community partnerships.”

Maureen T. Lischke

Chief Information Officer and Program Executive Officer for Information Systems National Guard Bureau

“SCORM 1.1 is a significant step towards the realization of a shared vision that includes the ability to publish online learning content that can be deployed anywhere anytime on any learning system. This milestone demonstrates how the E-learning and training industry has grown and matured and the role that industry standards play. SCORM is based on work that was done by consortia such as the IMS Global Learning Consortium, the Alliance of Remote Instructional and Distribution Networks for Europe, and the Aviation Industry CBT Consortium and that is being formally standardized within the IEEE. At the same time, ADL research, testing, and implementation activities are providing valuable input into the standardization process. The IEEE Learning Technology Standards Committee is proud to have both contributed to and derived benefit from SCORM and expects to work even more closely with organizations like ADL as the future of learning technology unfolds.”

Robby Robson

Chairman, IEEE Learning Technology Standards Committee

“Two proven indicators of significant work are success and experience. SCORM version 1.1 has both. Based on the overwhelming success as indicated by the many trial implementations throughout the world of SCORM 1.0, and in the lessons learned that now are incorporated into versions 1.1, provides an enormous resource. This will assure the realization of the vision of the future learning environment we all so passionately are chasing.”

Wayne Hodgins

Chairman IEEE LTSC Learning Object Metadata Work Group, and Autodesk Strategic Futurist & Director of World Wide Learning Strategies

“I am impressed. I like the new SCORM 1.1. It offers improvements in readability and logical structure. However, I am especially pleased to see that it is not attempting to re-invent the wheel. Rather, it endorses proven existing practices and guidelines: like the AICC CMI Guidelines. Thank you ADL.”

Jack Hyde

Chairman, AICC CMI Subcommittee, and Flight Safety Boeing Learning Technologist

“SCORM 1.1 very effectively consolidates current work from the e-learning industry, and the expectations it creates plant a stake on the horizon for all participants in the development of the field. The activities of the ADL Co-Laboratories continue to stimulate collective progress toward the goal of interoperable, reusable learning resources.”

Dr. Edward C. T. Walker

Chief Executive Officer IMS Global Learning Consortium, Inc.

“The latest release of the Sharable Content Object Reference Model (SCORM), Release 1.1, demonstrates the continued commitment of higher education, government, and business to work together to develop standards for distributed learning. The importance of the SCORM initiative has become very apparent to many in the higher education community over the past year; this latest release fills in some of the gaps in the standards and provides a more solid foundation for curricular designers and tools developers to work from.”

Ed Meachen

Associate Vice President, Learning & Information Technology University of Wisconsin System

“Over the past year we have witnessed a broad level of acceptance and excitement for the SCORM initiative and its directions. We in academia are pleased to see this important step with the release of SCORM V1.1 to harmonize standards and further industry adoption.”

Judy Brown

Emerging Technology Analyst, University of Wisconsin System, and Director, Academic ADL Co-Laboratory