SCORM vs Tin Can API: The difference between compact discs and iTunes



SCORM vs Tin Can: Similarities & Differences

SCORM vs Tin Can API

SCORM the trailblazer: SCORM revolutionized the eLearning industry because content developers, instructional designers and courseware administrators could freely use any LMS to create training programs, without having to worry about data interoperability. With SCORM, importing content from one LMS to another and tracking course data became a seamless and hassle-free process.

Limitations of SCORM:


Another case was that SCORM could not be used for any learning that happened outside the LMS. For instance, people learn a lot of new things everyday on social networks. With SCORM, you could not track this as learning data, which was part of your course.


Instead of looking at learning data as a bunch of numbers of who took the course and how much they scored, Tin Can would focus on learning experiences. These experiences would include each and every interaction of learners with your course as well as learning that happens outside the LMS such as in simulation environments, social media or even in daily conversation.

Limitations of Tin Can API:

In the guide to Tin Can API that we published earlier, we made a light-hearted comment of how the saying "With great power, comes great responsibility" was true for Tin Can Api.


Tin Can API - the new eLearning Standard

Evolution of eLearning standards


Let’s look at how these standards have evolved over the years:

1980: The  aviation industry starts computer-based training (CBT) -  As aviation technology in the 80s advanced, airline staff needed adequate training, to use the different aircrafts, and also needed to have up-to-date information for safety reasons. To achieve this, the industry used a new technology called CBT to train its employees. This made it easy for employees to access training materials and review the latest information, from anytime and anywhere. As a result, training and managing compliance for hundreds of employees was possible.

The problem - Though the CBTs resolved many of the issues of traditional brick and mortar training sessions, it did have one major problem - interoperability. Since each company was using proprietary software and hardware to deliver computer-based training, the costs of training employees were high and training reports had to be tracked using multiple computers.

1988: Aviation Industry CBT Committee (AICC) was formed to standardize CBT - The AICC was an international group of aircraft manufacturers, instructors, courseware developers, vendors etc, who came together to standardize the delivery of eLearning content for the aviation industry.

Two important achievements of AICC were:



1999: Sharable Content Object Reference Model (SCORM) - The US Department of Defence founded Advanced Distributed Learning (ADL Initiative) with the goal to improve the access and delivery of  training to military forces. The result was SCORM, which was widely adopted by other public and private institutions in the delivery of eLearning content.

2012: Tin Can API - ADL and Rustici Software release version.9 of the Tin Can API.

How does SCORM & Tin Can help your organization

If your organization uses a learning management system that is Tin Can complaint, then creating training programs is not only easy but tracking learning data also becomes fast and efficient.

Here are some key ways in which an Tin Can Compliant LMS helps your business:




Track learning experiences with Tin Can API

A final round-up: SCORM and Tin Can Checklist




Tin Can Api

Course completion reports



Time spent by learner on the course



Pass/fail and score reports



Track informal learning (simulation, games etc)



Track social learning (online forums, social networks etc)



Track mobile learning (learning that happens on apps etc)



