If you develop digital learning, two acronyms come up constantly: SCORM and H5P. Both help you package interactive content and get it running inside an LMS, but they solve different problems.
What SCORM does
SCORM, the Sharable Content Object Reference Model, is a set of technical standards that lets a course built in one tool run in any SCORM compliant LMS, and, crucially, report back. When a learner completes a module, SCORM passes their score, completion status and time spent to the gradebook. It is the reliable choice when tracking and reporting matter.
What H5P does
H5P, short for HTML5 Package, is an open source format for creating rich interactive content such as interactive video, drag and drop, branching scenarios and quizzes, directly in the browser. It is fast to author, mobile friendly and free, and it embeds neatly into most modern platforms.
Which one should you use?
- Choose SCORM when formal completion tracking and gradebook reporting are essential.
- Choose H5P when you want quick, engaging interactions and lighter tracking needs.
- Often the best answer is both: H5P interactions wrapped in a SCORM package for reporting.
The right choice depends on your LMS, your reporting requirements and how much authoring flexibility you need. Get it right and your content travels cleanly between systems for years.