Learning Management System (LMS)
An Learning Management System (LMS) is a web application that allows users to sign in, launch training, and have their progress/completion in the training recorded.
Specifications
SCORM
Sharable Content Object Reference Model (SCORM) is a collection of standards and specifications e-learning. It has several versions.
SCORM 1.2
SCORM 1.2 was the first version widely used and is still the most widely adopted. It has "mandatory" and "non-mandatory" data model elements, which can lead to course deployment issues, typically when a course with optional elements tries to record them in an LMS that only support mandatory elements.
SCORM 2004 (edition 3-4)
A less widely adopted format, but more feature rich. The issue with 2004 is the adoption rate. Most LMSes that support 2004 also support 1.2, and our courseware typically does not take advantage of the features that add to (as well as complexity) SCORM 2004 development.
CMI5 (Tin-Can / Experience API [xPAPI or xAPI])
CMI5 is an Experience API profile that defines the course-LMS relationship within the Experience API. Experience API is a recently developed LMS / course communication standard. This standard is an improvement on SCORM and re-introduces some features and ideas from AICC. It is a complete change-up of the traditional learning standards, allowing just about anything to be tracked and reported on in the client LMS. Several members of ICOM's development team are actively taking part in the development of CMI-5.
http://www.adlnet.org/index.html
AICC
This format was originally drafted in the 1980's, but is still in (decreasing) use today. It was the pre-cursor to SCORM It was under the control of the AICC (Aviation Industry Computer-Based Training Committee), which is now a dissolved/defunct organization. The official website has been taken down, but you can find their old site archived here: http://web.archive.org/web/20150119210545/http://aicc.org/
There is currently very little active development for AICC LMSes, but some LMSes do support this technology and a number of our clients still expect courses to be delivered in this format.
3rd party LMSs
ICOM has worked with a large number of LMSs developed by other vendors. Check out the top menu for more detail
