Knowledgebase: Swift Presenter FAQs
What are AICC and SCORM, and what is the difference between the two?
Posted by Support on 22 January 2007 02:55 PM
Both are industry standards that establish protocols for exchanging information about the learner and the learners experience in a piece of content. Both protocols enable the passing of the same type of data, including Score, Status, Bookmark and Time spent in the course. The difference is in how this information is exchanged between a piece of Content and an LMS.

When SCORM is used, a student will click on a link, which will direct his or her browser to a Course that sits on the LMS server. This Course and the LMSs API Adaptor are both loaded into the students browser. As soon as they are loaded, the Course API does two things. First, it communicates (via JavaScript) with the LMSs API Adaptor in order for the content to receive student information. Second, the API communicates this information by making an HTTP connection to the content. The course is then launched in the students browser. When his session ends, the course API communicates the session data (Score, Status, Bookmark, etc.) to the LMSs API Adaptor.

AICC means Aviation Industry CBT [Computer-Based Training] Committee and SCORM means Shareable Content Object Reference Model. Both the AICC and SCORM are online training courses. Though one may come across many similarities between the two, there are many differences between them.

The AICC is an international association of trained professional in the technological area. The Aviation Industry CBT (Computer-Based Training) Committee mainly develops guidelines for the development, evaluation and delivery of Computer Based Technology and other related training technologies.

SCORM is also a web based learning process that involves "Run-Time Environment" and "Content Aggregation Model". Shareable Content Object Reference Model can be called as a collection of specifications tailored from multiple sources that provide a comprehensive set of e-learning capabilities. SCORM enables accessibility, interoperability and reusability of the learning content.

When comparing the two web-based learning, one can see that the SCORM test suite and specification are less ambiguous than AICC specification. It is also seen that the SCORM suite and specification is more practical than the AICC.

When SCORM can be deployed in easy steps, it involves more steps in AICC. The SCORM courses is as simple as uploading a Zip file. The SCORM conformant courses are known to communicate with an LMS through by calling methods known as API adapter whereas the AICC conformant courses communicate by sending HTTP messages to the LMS and then interpreting the response from the LMS.

The AICC was the first to be formed between the two curses. Aviation manufacturers like Airbus, Boeing and McDonnell-Douglas formed the AICC in 1988 to standardize the delivery of Computer Based Technology. An the coming years saw the implementation of AICC in other industries.

It was in 2003 that SCORM was introduced as a specialized program. The office of the United States Secretary of Defense was the first to initiate SCORM.

 

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