Glossary
SCORM and e-learning glossary
Key terms and definitions for SCORM hosting, content dispatch, learning analytics, and e-learning standards. A reference for content providers, developers, and L&D professionals.
A
AICC
Aviation Industry Computer-Based Training Committee. An early e-learning interoperability standard that predates SCORM. AICC uses HTTP-based communication (HACP) between content and an LMS. AllureConnect supports AICC content alongside SCORM, xAPI, and cmi5.
API Key
A secret token used to authenticate programmatic requests to a SCORM hosting API. AllureConnect issues API keys per workspace, prefixed ac_live_ for production and ac_test_ for sandbox environments. API keys authenticate Bearer token requests to the /api/v1 endpoints.
C
CMI Data Model
The data model defined by the SCORM specification that governs how content communicates learner progress to the runtime. It includes fields like cmi.core.lesson_status, cmi.core.score.raw, and cmi.suspend_data. AllureConnect implements the full CMI data model for both SCORM 1.2 and SCORM 2004.
cmi5
A modern e-learning specification built on xAPI that defines how an LMS launches content and tracks completion. cmi5 adds structure to xAPI by specifying required statements (launched, initialized, completed, passed, failed, terminated). AllureConnect supports cmi5 packages on every plan.
Completion Status
A SCORM data model element (cmi.core.lesson_status in SCORM 1.2, cmi.completion_status in SCORM 2004) that indicates whether a learner has finished a course. Common values include "completed," "incomplete," "not attempted," and "unknown." AllureConnect tracks completion status in real time and surfaces it in analytics.
Completion Tracking
The process of recording whether a learner has finished a course and what score or status they achieved. AllureConnect tracks completions in real time and pushes events via webhooks.
Content Dispatch
The process of distributing hosted SCORM content to third-party LMSs without sharing source files. AllureConnect generates dispatch links — lightweight SCORM packages that redirect to AllureConnect-hosted content. This lets content providers serve multiple client LMSs from a single source of truth while tracking learner activity per client.
Content Package
A ZIP archive containing e-learning content and a manifest file (imsmanifest.xml for SCORM). The package bundles HTML, JavaScript, media assets, and metadata required to deliver a course. AllureConnect validates content packages on upload and stores them on Cloudflare R2 for delivery.
Content Provider
An organization that creates and distributes training content to third-party LMSs or platforms. AllureConnect's dispatch feature allows content providers to distribute SCORM packages to client LMSs while retaining tracking data.
D
Dispatch Link
A unique URL generated by AllureConnect that allows a third-party LMS to launch and track a SCORM package without hosting the content directly. Each dispatch link is versioned, revocable, and tracked independently.
I
imsmanifest.xml
The XML manifest file required in every SCORM content package. It describes the course structure, SCO (Shareable Content Object) hierarchy, launch file paths, and sequencing rules. AllureConnect parses imsmanifest.xml on upload to validate package structure and extract metadata.
L
Launch URL
A URL generated by a SCORM hosting platform that opens a content package in a hosted player. AllureConnect generates signed launch URLs per learner session, embedding the SCORM runtime, session tracking, and suspend data persistence. Launch URLs can be embedded in iframes or opened directly.
Learner Progress
The aggregate of a learner's interactions with a course, including completion status, score, time spent, bookmark/resume position, and suspend data. AllureConnect tracks learner progress in real time and exposes it through the dashboard and REST API.
Learner Session
A single interaction between a learner and a content package, tracked from launch to completion or suspension. AllureConnect persists session state (scores, progress, suspend data) across resumptions.
Learning Analytics
The measurement, collection, and analysis of data about learners and their contexts. AllureConnect provides learning analytics including completion rates, score distributions, time-on-task, and per-learner progress reports.
LMS
Learning Management System. Software that manages, delivers, and tracks training content for learners. Examples include Moodle, Canvas, Blackboard, Cornerstone, and TalentLMS. AllureConnect integrates with any LMS that supports SCORM, xAPI, cmi5, or LTI 1.3 through content dispatch and launch URLs.
LRS
Learning Record Store. A data store for xAPI statements that record learner activities. AllureConnect includes an integrated LRS on Professional plans and above, capturing xAPI statements and surfacing them in analytics dashboards. External LRS systems can also receive forwarded statements.
LTI 1.3
Learning Tools Interoperability version 1.3. An IMS Global standard for securely connecting learning tools with LMS platforms. LTI 1.3 uses OAuth 2.0 and JSON Web Tokens for authentication. AllureConnect supports LTI 1.3 for seamless content delivery inside LMS platforms like Canvas and Blackboard.
M
Manifest
A structured metadata file that describes the contents and organization of an e-learning package. In SCORM, the manifest is imsmanifest.xml. It defines the course title, SCO hierarchy, resource files, and sequencing rules. AllureConnect validates manifests on upload before making content available for launch.
Multi-tenant
An architecture where a single platform instance serves multiple isolated customer organizations (tenants). AllureConnect uses workspace-level multi-tenancy: each workspace has its own packages, learner data, API keys, dispatch links, and billing. No workspace can access another workspace's data.
P
PPT-to-SCORM Conversion
The process of converting a PowerPoint presentation into a SCORM-compliant learning package. AllureConnect includes a built-in conversion API that transforms .pptx files into hosted SCORM 1.2 or 2004 packages.
Q
Quick Publish API
An AllureConnect API endpoint that accepts a JSON payload of slide content and instantly generates a hosted SCORM package. Used by AI tools (GPT Actions, Claude MCP) to create courses programmatically.
S
SCO
Shareable Content Object. The smallest unit of trackable learning content in a SCORM package. A single SCORM package can contain one or more SCOs, each with its own launch file and tracking data. AllureConnect tracks progress at the SCO level within multi-SCO packages.
SCORM
Sharable Content Object Reference Model. An industry-standard specification for packaging, delivering, and tracking e-learning content. SCORM defines how content communicates with an LMS through a JavaScript API. AllureConnect hosts SCORM content and provides the runtime, player, and analytics infrastructure.
SCORM 1.2
The most widely adopted version of the SCORM specification, released in 2001. SCORM 1.2 defines a JavaScript API (API object) and CMI data model for tracking completion, scores, and session data. AllureConnect supports full SCORM 1.2 hosting, playback, and tracking on every plan.
SCORM 2004
An updated SCORM specification that adds sequencing and navigation rules, a richer CMI data model (API_1484_11), and multi-SCO sequencing. SCORM 2004 has four editions (1st through 4th). AllureConnect supports all SCORM 2004 editions with full sequencing support.
SCORM Cloud
A SCORM hosting service operated by Rustici Software. SCORM Cloud provides content hosting, dispatch, and reporting. AllureConnect is a modern alternative to SCORM Cloud with lower pricing, a developer-first REST API, built-in xAPI/cmi5 support, and a free developer sandbox.
SCORM Hosting
A cloud service that stores, delivers, and tracks SCORM content packages on behalf of content providers and L&D teams. AllureConnect is a SCORM hosting platform that handles upload, validation, hosted playback, and real-time session tracking.
SCORM Player
A runtime environment that loads SCORM content, provides the JavaScript API (window.API or window.API_1484_11), and manages communication between content and the hosting platform. AllureConnect includes a hosted SCORM player — no custom player development is required.
SCORM Runtime
The JavaScript API layer that SCORM content uses to communicate learner progress to the hosting platform. The runtime handles Initialize, GetValue, SetValue, Commit, and Terminate calls. AllureConnect implements the full SCORM 1.2 and SCORM 2004 runtime in its hosted player.
SCORM Runtime Environment
The software layer that mediates communication between a SCORM content package and the hosting platform during playback. AllureConnect's hosted player provides a standards-compliant runtime for SCORM 1.2 and 2004 packages.
Session
A single learner interaction period with a SCORM package, from launch to termination. AllureConnect tracks each session independently, recording duration, completion status, score, and interactions. Resumptions (reopening a suspended session) are tracked separately from new launches.
Suspend Data
A SCORM data model element (cmi.suspend_data) that stores a free-form string allowing content to save and restore learner state across sessions. AllureConnect persists suspend data between sessions so learners can resume exactly where they left off.
W
Webhook
An HTTP callback that AllureConnect sends to your server when events occur — such as learner completions, package uploads, dispatch updates, or billing changes. AllureConnect webhook payloads are HMAC-signed for verification and automatically retried on failure with exponential backoff.
X
xAPI (Experience API)
Also known as Tin Can API. A modern e-learning specification that tracks learner activities as "actor-verb-object" statements. xAPI is more flexible than SCORM and can track learning activities beyond traditional courseware. AllureConnect supports xAPI content, stores statements in an integrated LRS, and surfaces xAPI analytics in the dashboard.
Z
ZIP Package
A compressed archive file format used to bundle SCORM content packages. A valid SCORM ZIP package contains an imsmanifest.xml at the root level along with all referenced content files. AllureConnect accepts ZIP packages up to the storage limit of your plan via dashboard upload or the REST API.
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