The Pros And Cons Of SCORM, xAPI, And LTI
A Learning Management System (LMS) can achieve an almost limitless variety of functions to support any aspect of L&D. But at the most fundamental level, you need to be certain that any platform you're considering is capable of delivering your learning content to your learners. That means ensuring that the LMS you choose can handle your preferred format of content. This typically revolves around one or more of these three factors:
- Interactivity
You want to create and share engaging, interactive learning content. - Insights
You want to be able to track how your learners engage with your learning content. - Interopability
You want your learning content to work across various platforms because your organization uses multiple systems, you want to future-proof content creation, or you have an extensive catalogue of courses in a particular format.
SCORM, xAPI, And LTI: Which Learning Standards Are Right For You?
Against that backdrop, let's look at the pros and cons of some of the most widely used learning standards.
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SCORM (Sharable Content Object Reference Model)
Once the ubiquitous choice of learning standards for LMSs, SCORM remains the most widely used. SCORM (Sharable Content Object Reference Model) was developed to create standard learning content formats that could be used across different learning platforms. In this regard, it has been incredibly successful. SCORM is a framework of technical standards that enables learning content to be packaged and imported into any SCORM-compliant LMS or application. Since SCORM LMS compatibility is more or less universal, this opens up an array of options.
Benefits Of SCORM
- Simplicity
It is incredibly easy to create SCORM content using any of the SCORM authoring tools available. - Low cost
Since it's so easy and there are many authoring options available, creating SCORM content is highly cost-effective. - Combining multiple content sources
Given its universality, SCORM allows you to curate learning content from various creators within a single learning platform. - Future-proofing learning content
SCORM is so widely used that migrating your existing SCORM content to a new learning platform is simple. - Unified standards
SCORM standards maintain uniformity across all packages, which ensures interoperability. - Tracking
SCORM enables you to track course completion and how long learners spend on each course.
Disadvantages Of SCORM
- Limited tracking
Compared to other learning standards, SCORM's tracking capabilities are fairly limited.
LMS Buyers' Tip For SCORM
Choose an LMS that supports both SCORM 1.2 and 2004 to ensure all of your existing SCORM content continues to work.
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xAPI (Experience API/Tin Can API)
xAPI (short for Experience API and also known as Tin Can API) is one of the newest 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 of their engagement. This information is then stored in a learning record store (LRS).
Benefits Of xAPI
- Versatility
xAPI data is not restricted to an LMS and tracks engagement with your learning content wherever learners engage with it. - Tracking across multiple devices
xAPI tracking works across 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 stored securely in ways that enable individual learners to transfer their data between different organizations.
Disadvantages Of xAPI
- No content creation
Unlike SCORM, xAPI doesn't offer content creation, so you still need SCORM or a SCORM alternative. - Complex setup
Compared to the simplicity of SCORM, xAPI is harder to configure and even more complicated to get right.
LMS Buyers' Tip For xAPI
Choose an LMS that can easily integrate an LRS to get the most from your xAPI data.
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LTI (Learning Tools Interoperability)
Learning Tools Interoperability (LTI) is a learning integration standard that enables you to use external learning content and other media within your LMS or LXP. External resources are seamlessly contained within the LMS using an iframe. This means learning content, such as videos, simulations, and assessment engines, can effectively be pulled in from anywhere and delivered natively within your learning platform.
Benefits Of LTI
- Seamless integration
LMS integrations can be achieved very easily and quickly using LTI. - Easy authentication
With LTI compatibility for single sign-on (SSO), it's simple to create secure authentication processes for your LMS. - Cost-effective platform extension
The ease with which LTI compatibility enables third-party tools and other media to be integrated with your LMS makes it an affordable way to expand and diversify a learning platform.
Disadvantages Of LTI
- Not universally supported
Unlike SCORM, not all learning platforms support LTI. - Low-quality User Experience
Delivering learning content and other tools through an iframe can restrict the learning experiences you're able to create. - Limited data
LTI integrations don't offer advanced tracking and don't track learner engagement outside the LMS.
LMS Buyers' Tip For LTI
Choose a platform that supports LTI 1.3 Advantage, which is now the default version of LTI.
Do Major LMSs Support SCORM, LTI, Or xAPI Standards?
Yes, most major LMSs support SCORM, LTI, xAPI, and a variety of other learning standards. But it's worth noting that not all major platforms support all of these standards. It's worth checking the specifics of any LMS you're considering buying to make sure it supports the standards you want to use. Similarly, different platforms support learning standards in different ways. Some are clunkier than others. Again, check that any LMS you're thinking about supports the standards you want to use in a way that is convenient for your requirements.
xAPI Vs. SCORM
xAPI is typically thought of as being a SCORM alternative or replacement, which instantly sparks "xAPI vs. SCORM" discussions. In fact, as noted in relation to the benefits of both standards, they perform slightly different roles. While SCORM is creating and delivering content with some tracking included, xAPI is much more focused on tracking and communicating learning data.
SCORM, xAPI, And LTI: The Conclusion
SCORM, xAPI, and LTI all have their role to play in online learning in 2025. The right learning standards for your organization will depend on your L&D priorities. If your aim is to preserve a valuable catalogue of existing courses for as long as possible, SCORM remains the obvious choice. If you want high-quality, real-time analytics from your learning content, xAPI is best for delivering this. And, if you want the versatility of being able to pool courses and resources from a range of sources and content providers, LTI is essential.
To cover all the options, it's advisable to choose an LMS that supports SCORM, xAPI, and LTI. This will ensure you enjoy the advantages of existing and interoperable learning content while also future-proofing your LMS.
