Scorm, Xapi and LTI: what each LMS buyer must know

The advantages and disadvantages of Scorm, Xapi and LTI

A learning management system (LMS) can reach a variety of functions almost unlimited to support any L&D aspect. But at the most fundamental level, you must be sure that any platform you are considering is capable of delivering your learning content to your learners. This means ensuring that the LMS you choose can manage your favorite content format. This generally revolves around one or more of these three factors:

• Interactivity
  You want to create and share interactive and engaging learning content.
• Knowledge
  You want to be able to follow how your learners engage with your learning content.
• Interopability
  You want your learning content to work on various platforms because your organization uses several systems, you want to create content to the test of time, or you have a large catalog of courses in a particular format.

SCORM, XAPI and LTI: What learning standards are right for you?

In this context, let's look at the advantages and disadvantages of some of the most used learning standards.

• SCORM (Sharable content object reference model)

Once the choice is omnipresent of learning standards for LMSS, Mess remains the most widely used. SCORM (Sharable content reference model) has been developed to create standard learning content formats that could be used on different learning platforms. In this regard, he was an incredible success. SCORM is a framework for technical standards that allows content to learn to be packed and imported into any LMS or application in accordance with SCORM. Since SCORM LMS compatibility is more or less universal, this opens up a range of options.

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Benefits of Scorm

• Simplicity
  It is incredibly easy to create SCORM content using one of the Available SCORM Creation tools.
• Low cost
  As it is so easy and there are many authorization options, the creation of SCORM content is very profitable.
• Combine several content sources
  Given its universality, Scorm allows you to manage the learning content of various creators within a single learning platform.
• Learning content to the test of the future
  SCORM is so widely used that the migration of your existing scorm content towards a new learning platform is simple.
• Unified standards
  SCORM standards maintain uniformity in all packages, which guarantees interoperability.
• Follow up
  SCORM allows you to follow the completion of the course and the duration of the learners at each course.

Disadvantages of Scorm

• Limited follow -up
  Compared to other learning standards, SCORM's monitoring capacities are quite limited.

LMS buyers tip for scorm

Choose an LMS that supports SCORM 1.2 and 2004 to make sure that all your existing SCORM content continues to work.

• XAPI (Experience API / TIN CAN API)

XAPI (abbreviation of the experience API and also known as API Can) is one of the new forms of learning standards. It is designed to store learning data and share it between different systems. When learners interact with your learning content, Xapi records data on all their commitments. This information is then stored in a learning record store (LRS).

Advantages of Xapi

• Versatility
  XAPI data is not limited to an LMS and follow commitment with your learning content wherever learners engage with it.
• Followed on several devices
  XAPI monitoring operates on phones, games, medical devices, simulators and other formats.
• Supports various learning activities
  XAPI works with the vast majority of learning content types.
• Secure personal data storage
  Personal data is safely stored so as to allow individual learners to transfer their data between different organizations.

Disadvantages of Xapi

• No content creation
  Unlike Scorm, Xapi does not offer content creation, so you always need Scorm or a SCORM alternative.
• Complex configuration
  Compared to the simplicity of Scorm, Xapi is more difficult to configure and even more complicated to be right.

LMS buyers tip for xapi

Choose an LMS that can easily integrate an LRS to make the most of your XAPI data.

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• LTI (interoperability of learning tools)

Interoperability learning tools (LTI) is a learning integration standard that allows you to use external learning content and other supports in your LMS or LXP. External resources are contained transparently in the LMS using an Iframe. This means that learning content, such as videos, simulations and evaluation engines, can actually be removed from anywhere and natively delivered to your learning platform.

Benefits of LTI

• Transparent integration
  LMS integrations can be carried out very easily and quickly using LTI.
• Easy authentication
  With LTI compatibility for unique connection (SSO), it is easy to create secure authentication processes for your LMS.
• Profitable platform extension
  The ease with which LTI compatibility makes it possible to integrate third-party tools and other media in your LMS makes it an affordable means of developing and diversifying a learning platform.

Disadvantages of LTI

• Not universally sustained
  Unlike Scorm, not all learning platforms support LTI.
• Low quality user experience
  The delivery of learning content and other tools via an Iframe can restrict the learning experiences that you are able to create.
• Limited data
  LTI integrations do not offer advanced follow -up and do not follow the learner's commitment outside the LMS.

LMI buyers tip for LTI

Choose a platform that supports LTI 1.3 Advantage, which is now the default version of LTI.

Do the main LMS support SCORM, LTI or XAPI standards?

Yes, most major LMS support Scorm, LTI, XAPI and a variety of other learning standards. But it should be noted that all the main platforms do not support all these standards. It is worth checking the details of all the LMs you plan to buy to make sure it supports the standards you want to use. Likewise, different platforms support learning standards in different ways. Some are more awkward than others. Again, check that all LMS that you are thinking of supporting the standards you want to use in a way that suits your needs.

Xapi vs. Mess

Xapi is generally considered to be an alternative or a scorm replacement, which instantly triggers discussions “Xapi vs scorm”. In fact, as indicated in relation to the advantages of the two standards, they play slightly different roles. While SCORM creates and provides content with certain follow -ups included, XAPI is much more focused on monitoring and communication of learning data.

Scorm, Xapi and LTI: the conclusion

SCORM, XAPI and LTI all have their role to play in online learning in 2025. Good learning standards for your organization will depend on your L&D priorities. If your goal is to preserve a valuable catalog of existing courses as long as possible, SCORM remains the obvious choice. If you want high quality and real -time analyzes of your learning content, Xapi is the best to deliver it. And, if you want the versatility of being able to pool courses and resources from a range of content sources and suppliers, the LTI is essential.

To cover all the options, it is advisable to choose an LMS that supports Scorm, Xapi and LTI. This will allow you to take advantage of the advantages of existing and interoperable learning content while exercising your LMS.

Synergy Learning LMS

Awarded LMS platforms. Totara Platinum and Moodle Premium Partners, we create exceptional learning platforms for your organization in order to reduce training costs, increase employee retention rates and facilitate essential training and compliance.