What better way to kick-off 2024 than to talk about eLearning standards? Okay, maybe not everyone gets as excited about discussing the latest news about acronyms like SCORM, xAPI or cmi5 as we do. No matter your standards enthusiasm, be sure to catch our latest webinar with IEEE LTSC voting members Chris Tompkins and Brian Miller sharing what happened in the standards world in 2023 and what may transpire in the future.

2. About Rustici Software
eLearning technology experts
since 2002
We help connect content and
platforms across the eLearning
ecosystem, leveraging our expertise
in SCORM, xAPI, cmi5, LTI and AICC.

5. As the standards experts, Rustici Software has been
involved in key projects throughout their evolution.
Significant standards events
1998 2001 2004 2005 2006 2011 2012 2015 2016 2017
1999 2000 2002 2003 2007 2008 2009 2010 2013 2014 2018 2020 2021
2019
AICC
Aviation Industry
Computer-Based
Training Committee
SCORM
Sharable Content
Object Reference
Model
LTI
Learning Tools
Interoperability
xAPI
Experience API
cmi5
name of the
xAPI Profile
SCORM 2004 1st Edition
SCORM 2004 2nd Edition
SCORM 1.2
SCORM 2004
4th Edition
SCORM 2004
3rd Edition
DoDI 1322.26
updated to
include xAPI
Rustici Software
was founded
2023
2022
xAPI becomes
IEEE standard

6. SCORM Cloud: Standards in use today
● Free way to test content.
● Sees lots of courses each
year.
● Light way to deliver content
directly.
● Shows industry trends well.

7. SCORM Cloud data: Courses by standard

8. SCORM Cloud data: Registrations by standard

9. What happened in 2023
I talked about cmi5 for
90 mins while wearing
a button-down shirt!
Me being
me.

10. xAPI 2.0 becomes an IEEE standard
● March 30, 2023: IEEE approved “IEEE
9274.1.1-2023”.
● xAPI 2.0 is the first open source specification to
become an IEEE standard.
● xAPI is now recognized on the same level as the
WiFi standard.

11. Cassette releases xAPI plugin for Unreal Engine
● Open source plugin.
● Allows users to send xAPI
statements and states to LRS.
● Revolutionizes learning
analytics by providing insights
into learners' interactions and
progress.
● Compatible with SCORM Cloud
LRS and Watershed LRS.

12. 2023 IEEE ICICLE Conference
● International Consortium for Innovation and
Collaboration in Learning Engineering
● Coincided with ADL’s PlugFest.
● Volunteer professional organization committed to
the development of Learning Engineering as a
profession and as an academic discipline.
○ Learning Engineering is a growing field capable of capturing
more interesting data than SCORM.
● 2024 conference is July 22-24 in Phoenix, AZ.

13. What’s coming next
Apparently AI
thinks we’ll look
a little worse for
wear in 5 years.
But what we’re
wearing won’t
change at all.

14. SCORM is not dead (or going away soon)
● SCORM is still king with 1.2 being the most commonly
used standard in SCORM Cloud.
Predictions:
● SCORM continues to be the de facto standards leader.
● More people use mobile, and more understand how to publish
content that plays nicely with it. (This bullet was approved by Joe Donnelly)
● cmi5 might one day replace SCORM, but not in the next 5
years.
● There will not be a new version. (Too easy?)

15. Work on cmi5 2.0
● Compatible with xAPI 2.0 statements
● Per ADL fungible resources page: The cmi5 specification is now
in the IEEE standards pipeline and is expected to become an
IEEE Open Standard.
cmi5 predictions:
● 2025 - Maybe 1st vote on cmi5 2.0.
● Updates to DoDI and/or TLA once it becomes an IEEE standard.
● Increase in cmi5 adoption.

16. Exciting time for xAPI
Predictions:
● Increase in demand for better data and tracking.
● IEEE standard status helps speed up adoption rates.
○ Increase in adopters for both xAPI and cmi5.
● More questions about LRS capabilities and if you need one.
● Growing need for adoption of xAPI profiles.

17. Rustici Engine 23 release will support xAPI 2.0
● Release expected February.
● LRS will accept 2.0 statements.
● Engine will no longer support* Tin Can
statements.
● Until cmi5 is updated, there is no way to
launch xAPI-based content that sends 2.0
statements.

18. What you can do now
Learn the ROPES
so you can
future-proof
your tech STACK.
What does this
have to do with
preparing for
standards
advancements?

19. Think about your future training goals
Consider where you’re heading and plan for the
future.
● Do you want more data? Do you need an
LMS? Are you wanting to use newer
technologies?
● Choose the standard that is best for your
content and your learners.
● Assess what’s in your toolbox. Do any of your
tools support the standard you want to use?

20. Picking the best standard for your content
Which one is best for your
content?
Big 4
LMS Directly from Activity
Launching System
Simple Interactions Arbitrary Data
In-Depth Interactions
How do Learners Access?
Types of Data
LMS Simulations
Training Activity Type Mobile Apps Serious Games
SCORM
Answers fall mostly in
the blue on the left
side.
cmi5
Answers are a mix of
both colors.
xAPI
Answers fall mostly in
the gray on the right
side.

21. Future proofing your tech stack
● Confirm that your LMS and/or authoring tool vendors have
support for 2.0 on their roadmap and that they intend to
support both the 1.0.x specification and the 2.0 standard for the
foreseeable future.
● Check that they’re migrating off of any system or content that
is still using the very early 0.9 version of xAPI (or Tin Can).

22. What you should do next - vendors
Supporting xAPI 2.0
● Vendors need to make sure they’re conformant to xAPI 1.0.
● The biggest changes to xAPI 2.0 are that items that were
previously listed as “shoulds” are now requirements.
● Read our blog on xAPI.com for more specific vendor tips.
● If you’re using “Tin Can” packages, it’s time to transition to
cmi5.

23. Questions?
Ask us anything!
Email: support@rusticisoftware.com
Or your Customer Support Manager!
Learn more:
rusticisoftware.com | scorm.com | xapi.com
Nailed the
presentation
photobomb