SCORM Alternatives: Better Ways to Deliver Online Learning

When you think of online courses, you might picture SCORM, a decades-old technical standard for packaging e-learning content that most learning platforms still support. Also known as Sharable Content Object Reference Model, it was designed in the early 2000s to make courses work across different systems. But today, SCORM is like a flip phone in a smartphone world—it’s clunky, limited, and full of glitches. Many LMS platforms still use it out of habit, not because it’s the best option.

Modern learning needs something faster, smarter, and more flexible. That’s where xAPI (Experience API), a next-generation standard that tracks learning across devices, apps, and real-world activities, comes in. Unlike SCORM, which only records if you clicked through a slide, xAPI can track whether you practiced a skill in a simulation, watched a YouTube tutorial, or even completed a task on the job. Then there’s cmi5, a hybrid standard that wraps xAPI in a simple SCORM-like structure so older systems can still use it. It’s the best of both worlds: modern tracking with backward compatibility. And if you’re using a modern LMS like Moodle, TalentLMS, or Docebo, you’re probably already using one of these without even realizing it.

Why does this matter? Because if your training still runs on SCORM, you’re missing out on data that could improve learner outcomes. You can’t see if someone struggled with a module, skipped a video, or rewatched a section. You can’t link learning to performance. You can’t track mobile learning or microlearning snippets. SCORM alternatives fix all that. They let you build adaptive courses, integrate with apps, and measure real behavior—not just completion.

Below, you’ll find real-world posts that explore how people are moving past SCORM, what tools they’re using instead, and how modern learning platforms are changing the game for learners and trainers alike. Whether you’re building courses, choosing an LMS, or just trying to understand why your training system feels so outdated, these articles give you the practical insights you need.