What is SCORM again, and what does xAPI do?
We explain the terms that keep coming up in conversations about corporate courses, without the jargon. 33 terms, one page.
A
Accreditation
Approval of a course by an independent body against defined quality criteria. In corporate e-learning, CPD is one of the most common examples.
Action plan
The part at the end of a course where participants write down concrete steps to apply back at work. It significantly increases the chance that learning turns into behavior.
Adaptive learning
An approach in which content changes automatically based on the learner’s answers and pace. It skips what a learner already knows and adds explanation where they struggle.
Andragogy
The theory of adult learning. It rests on adults wanting to know why they are learning, drawing on their experience and being able to apply what they learn right away.
Assessment
The step that measures a learner’s knowledge and skills. Formative assessment guides learning along the way; summative assessment makes the final call.
Asynchronous learning
A form of learning in which learners access content whenever they want, without depending on a live session. It is the default model of corporate e-learning.
Authoring tool
Software for producing e-learning content (such as Articulate Storyline, Adobe Captivate or Rise). It usually exports a SCORM or xAPI package.
B
Badge
A visual mark of a specific achievement. Unlike a certificate, it also makes smaller wins visible.
Blended learning
A program that combines online content with face-to-face sessions. Theory is delivered online, and classroom time is kept for practice and discussion.
Buddy
An experienced colleague, not the manager, who accompanies a new hire through onboarding. The safe go-to person for everyday questions.
C
Certificate
A document confirming that a course has been completed. A validity period can be set; when it expires, the course is assigned again.
Cognitive load
The limit on how much information can be processed at once. Filling the screen with text, or making people read and listen at the same time, raises this load and reduces learning.
Competency
The defined set of knowledge, skills and behaviors needed to perform a role successfully.
Competency matrix
A table that maps roles against competencies and expected levels. It makes development needs visible.
Completion rate
The share of people who finish an assigned course. On its own it is not a measure of success; read it together with learning outcomes.
Continuing Professional Development
An international accreditation system that documents ongoing professional development. CPD-approved courses count as development hours in many professions.
D
Development plan
A time-bound, measurable learning program built around an employee’s competency gaps.
E
Experience API / Tin Can
A standard that goes beyond SCORM and can also record learning experiences outside the platform. It stores data in a repository called an LRS.
F
Forgetting curve
A curve showing how quickly learned information fades over time. Spaced repetition is used to slow this decline.
G
Gamification
Adding game elements such as points, badges, levels and leaderboards to a non-game process. The goal is not fun for its own sake but encouraging completion and repetition.
H
H5P
An open-source interactive content format that runs in the browser. Used to create interactive videos, drag-and-drop activities and mini quizzes.
I
Interactive content
Content that learners move through by clicking, choosing or making decisions. Retention is markedly higher than with passive viewing.
K
Kirkpatrick model
The classic framework that measures course impact on four levels: reaction, learning, behavior and results. Most organizations stop at the first two.
L
Learning Experience Platform
A platform built on recommendations and personalization, where learners discover content based on their interests. Where an LMS focuses on administration, an LXP focuses on experience.
Learning journey
Instead of a single course, a program of content and tasks spread over time and unlocked in sequence.
Learning Management System
The learning management system where courses are assigned, tracked and reported. Its focus is managing mandatory courses and tracking compliance.
M
Microlearning
Short content, usually 3 to 7 minutes long, focused on a single learning objective. Because it fits into the flow of work, completion rates are high.
O
Offboarding
The process of an employee leaving the organization: returning equipment, closing access, handing over knowledge and the exit interview. A flow that needs as much planning as onboarding.
Onboarding
The process of a new hire settling into the job and the organization. Beyond collecting paperwork, it covers understanding the role and how the organization works.
Orientation
The first stage of onboarding, where the organization is introduced. Usually completed on the first day or within the first week.
S
Sharable Content Object Reference Model
The most widely used standard for data exchange between e-learning content and an LMS. It passes completion, time and score data to the LMS.
Synchronous learning
A live session where the instructor and participants are present at the same time. Virtual classrooms and webinars fall into this group.
V
Virtual classroom
A live, online and interactive class environment. Sessions can be recorded and later turned into asynchronous content.
See these terms in action in Oriento
Upload a SCORM package, build a competency matrix, design an onboarding flow — all on one platform.