🚀 From Basic Metrics to Full Control: Why CMI-5 is the Tesla of E-Learning Tracking

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📉 One of the Greatest Challenges in E-Learning: Outdated Standards

One of the greatest challenges we face in e-learning is measuring the true impact of our training programs. For decades, we’ve been stuck relying on outdated standards like AICC and SCORM, which date back to a time when technology (and pop culture) looked very different.

To put things in perspective:

  • AICC (1988): As old as Die Hard. AICC was a pioneer in computer-based training interoperability, but today it feels just as dated as that iconic action movie.
  • SCORM (2000): Came onto the scene the same year Britney Spears released “Oops!… I Did It Again.” SCORM set the standard for web-based e-learning content and LMS interoperability, but its limitations have become clearer in our modern, multi-device world.
  • xAPI (2013): Launched around the time the Samsung Galaxy made smartphones the new norm. xAPI was a big leap forward, offering flexibility to track learning across different platforms, but its complexity has been a barrier for some organizations.
  • CMI-5 (2016): Emerged just as Pokémon GO brought millions of people into the streets chasing virtual monsters. CMI-5 blends the strengths of SCORM and xAPI, creating a modern, adaptable standard for today’s learners.

📉 Why SCORM Is Outdated: The Limitations of Basic Metrics

SCORM, much like Britney’s iconic hit, was a massive success in its time, but it only scratches the surface of what’s possible. It tells us whether learners completed a course and passed a quiz, but it doesn’t tell us much else:

  • How long did they spend on each section?
  • Did they pause, drop off, or return to certain parts?
  • Which sections did they skip or rewatch?

Imagine your CEO delivers a seven-minute video in a course. With SCORM, you’d know if the learner completed the course, but you’d have no idea if they actually watched the video, much less how much of it they watched. It’s like hearing someone walked into a movie theater without knowing if they stayed for the entire film.

In today’s world, where we expect to gather and analyze real-time data, SCORM feels like a relic of a simpler time—Internet Explorer in the age of Google Chrome.

🚀 Enter CMI-5: Why It’s the Future of E-Learning

Just as Pokémon GO introduced a new way of merging reality with gaming, CMI-5 brings together the best features of SCORM and xAPI to create a standard that works for today’s learning environments.

Here’s how CMI-5 improves on previous standards:

  • Bridges SCORM and xAPI: Combines SCORM’s structure and xAPI’s flexibility, enabling more sophisticated tracking while staying easy to implement.
  • Modern architecture: Instead of relying on outdated JavaScript, CMI-5 uses RESTful web services, making it more scalable and adaptable.
  • Content freedom: Unlike SCORM, which confines content to the LMS, CMI-5 allows content to be hosted anywhere, providing more flexibility in course delivery.
  • Mobile and offline friendly: Supports mobile apps and offline learning experiences—something SCORM just can’t do.
  • Enhanced security: Introduces a more secure authentication process, reducing security risks.
  • Simplified xAPI: Provides a streamlined version of xAPI, making it easier to implement without sacrificing functionality.
  • Standardized reporting: Establishes a more consistent way of tracking learner sessions, leading to better data across systems.
  • Future-proof: Designed to evolve with emerging technologies and learning methods, ensuring longevity.
  • Interoperability: Maintains compatibility between content and LMS systems, while expanding beyond traditional e-learning.
  • Data accessibility: Enables better access to detailed learning data, supporting more advanced analytics and reporting.

🧠 From Assumptions to Hypotheses: A Smarter Approach to E-Learning Data-Collection

Switching from SCORM to CMI-5 isn’t just about collecting more data—it’s about revolutionizing the way we observe and analyze learner engagement. With CMI-5, we can gather precise data on how learners interact with each part of the content, including how long they spend in each section.

For example: Imagine a course includes a seven-minute video from the CEO. By using CMI-5, you can see that learners only spend an average of three minutes in the section with the video, meaning many aren’t watching the full content.

At the same time, if you notice that some learners spend 30 minutes in this seven-minute section, it’s a sign they might not be fully engaged. This could indicate that learners are distracted or letting the video play in the background while doing something else, rather than actively watching.

The ideal scenario would be seeing viewing times that closely match the actual length of the video, indicating that learners are engaged and consuming the content as intended.

This leads us to hypothesize: Breaking the video into smaller chunks might keep learners more engaged. By splitting the seven-minute video into shorter segments, we can then test whether learners stay engaged longer, spend more time in each section, and ultimately retain more information.

Even if this data doesn’t give us the exact answer, it provides a better question to ask. It allows us to form a hypothesis for future testing, refining our approach based on real learner behavior.

📈 Starting Small: Feasibility, Desirability, and Viability

To get started with CMI-5, you don’t need to overhaul your entire system. Here’s how you can begin small and build momentum:

  • Feasibility: Export a single e-learning module using CMI-5 and compare the data to what you’d typically get with SCORM. For example, track how long learners spend in each section and whether their viewing times match the intended engagement level. This will give you a more accurate picture of how content is being consumed.
  • Desirability: Present this detailed data to leadership. By showing them specific examples—like how a seven-minute video is only being watched for three minutes or how some learners are taking 30 minutes to view the same section—you can demonstrate the value of granular tracking. This kind of insight allows leadership to see where learners drop off and suggests ways to optimize content for better results.
  • Viability: After gathering data and making small adjustments, track the outcomes. If learner engagement improves—such as learners spending more appropriate viewing times in sections or completing more of the content—you’ve proven with evidence that CMI-5 provides real value to the organization.

This phased approach allows you to start small with quick wins and gradually expand the use of CMI-5 across your e-learning programs.

🔍 Small Tweaks, Big Impact: Why Granular Data Matters

What seems like a small tweak—switching from SCORM to CMI-5—can have an enormous impact on how we design, deliver, and optimize e-learning. By collecting granular data, we can:

  • Ask smarter questions about how learners engage with the content.
  • Make more informed decisions about where to improve.
  • Test hypotheses that lead to better learner outcomes.

Ultimately, this isn’t just about collecting more data for data’s sake—it’s about using those insights to create richer, more effective learning experiences. And the best part? As long as your LMS supports CMI-5 (and most do), you can start gathering better data today.

🚀 The Case for Action

While AICC and SCORM were groundbreaking in their time—just like Die Hard and Britney Spears—they’re now relics of the past. Today’s e-learning needs to be as dynamic and flexible as xAPI and CMI-5. With CMI-5, we have the opportunity to move beyond the limitations of older standards and embrace a system that provides richer insights and better outcomes for both learners and organizations.

The time to act is now. CMI-5 is the future, and by adopting it, we can ensure that our e-learning programs are engaging, data-driven, and optimized for the needs of modern learners.

💡 Pro Tip

Want to see how CMI-5 compares to SCORM in your current LMS? You can upload a CMI-5 version of your training to SCORM Cloud, a fully functional LMS, to test how it works. This lets you explore the detailed metrics and reporting available with CMI-5 and compare them directly to what you’re currently getting with SCORM in your LMS. It’s an easy way to see the added value of CMI-5 without needing full LMS support!

📚 Down the Rabbit Hole: E-Learning Software Through the Decades

For anyone curious about the evolution of e-learning technology, here’s a fun dive down memory lane. Let’s take a look at the major players in e-learning software, with some pop culture moments to help you feel the era:

  • PLATO (1960): The year The Flintstones premiered on TV. Yabba dabba doo!
  • TICCIT (1971): The year Pong launched, bringing video gaming to the masses.
  • Blackboard (1997): The year Titanic hit theaters and MMMBop by Hanson topped the charts.
  • Moodle (2002): The year Kelly Clarkson won the first season of American Idol.
  • Adobe Captivate (originally RoboDemo) – 2003: The year Finding Nemo was released.
  • Articulate Studio (2006): The year Twitter was launched and High School Musical premiered.
  • Articulate Storyline (2012): The year Gangnam Style went viral.
  • Articulate Rise (2016): The year Pokémon GO became a global phenomenon.

📈 Conclusion: The Journey Continues

From PLATO in 1960 (yabba dabba doo) to Articulate Rise in 2016, e-learning software has evolved alongside pop culture, constantly adapting to new technologies and learner expectations. Just as we’ve gone from The Flintstones to Pokémon GO, the tools we use to teach and learn continue to evolve with the times.

Now, with innovations like CMI-5, we’re ready to take the next leap forward—optimizing how we learn and ensuring that every learner gets the most out of every interaction.

💡 Call to Action: Let’s Keep the Conversation Going

If this content (and my quirky sense of humor) resonates with you, chances are you’ll find even more value in my newsletter 🤔 Deep Thoughts and Whatnots or at Camsprompts.com. Feel free to dive in and explore—it’s full of fresh ideas, perspectives, and the occasional witty remark to keep things interesting.

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This original post on LinkedIn was followed by another test of mine, the Extreme Brevity version of this in the style of Axios News.

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