Exporting a simulation as a SCORM package for your LMS

SCORM lets you deliver a Cesura simulation through your Learning Management System (LMS). You export the simulation as a SCORM package — a single .zip file — and upload it to your LMS. Learners launch it from their course, run the simulation, and their score and completion flow back into the LMS gradebook.

SCORM is supported by virtually every LMS (Moodle, Canvas, Blackboard Learn, D2L Brightspace, and others). Cesura can export both SCORM 1.2 and SCORM 2004.

💡 SCORM or LTI 1.3? SCORM is the simplest option — export a file, upload it, done; no setup by an administrator. LTI 1.3 is a deeper, live integration (an admin connects Cesura to your LMS once, instructors then add activities directly, and you get automatic roster sync). If you want a quick, self-contained package, use SCORM. If you want an ongoing managed connection, see the LTI 1.3 guide.

What you'll need

Edit rights on the space in Cesura: the Instructor or Admin role in the space that contains the simulation. Other members cannot download a package.
A space with the LMS access level. Cesura generates SCORM packages only for activities in a space whose Access Level is LMS — SCORM / LTI 1.3.
Regular link delivery. An activity delivered through Safe Exam Browser only cannot be exported as SCORM.
The simulation saved — you can only generate a package once the simulation has been saved.
An LMS that supports SCORM 1.2 or 2004 and permission to upload SCORM content to a course.
Internet access for learners. The package is a launcher: when a learner opens it, the simulation runs live from Cesura. It doesn't run offline.

Before you start: turn your simulation into a Space

SCORM delivery works through a Space — the workspace that holds your simulation (as an activity) and collects learners’ runs and results. If your simulation isn’t in a space yet, create one straight from the Library:

Open the Library and find your simulation.
Click the Share with a group icon on the simulation’s card.
Keep Create New selected, give the space a Name, and set the Access Level to LMS — SCORM / LTI 1.3.
Click Create Space. Your simulation now lives in a space and is ready to export.

Already have a space? Open Share with a group and choose Add to Existing instead. If that space uses another access level, change its Access Level to LMS — SCORM / LTI 1.3 in the space settings first.

With the LMS access level, learners can open the space's activities only from your LMS. A direct Cesura link, QR code, or embed code does not work for them, and a learner who follows a direct link sees LMS Launch Required. Space instructors and admins can still preview the activities inside Cesura.

Step 1 — Open the SCORM tab

In Cesura, open the space that contains your simulation.
Open the simulation you want to deliver, so it opens in the editor.
Select the SCORM tab (alongside the Settings, Link, and Embedding tabs).

You'll see the SCORM Package panel: "Generate a SCORM package that can be imported into Learning Management Systems (LMS) like Moodle, Canvas, Blackboard, and D2L Brightspace."

⚠️ "Save the simulation first to generate SCORM packages." If you see this message, save the simulation and the options will appear.

Two other messages can replace the options:

"SCORM packages are only available in a space whose access level is LMS. Change it in the space settings, then come back here." Change the space's Access Level to LMS — SCORM / LTI 1.3.
"SCORM export isn't available with Safe Exam Browser delivery." The activity is set to Safe Exam Browser only. Learners must open it from its Safe Exam Browser link instead.

Step 2 — Choose your options

Option	What it does
SCORM Version	SCORM 2004 (Enhanced Features) is the default and recommended for most LMSs — it supports richer reporting (separate completion and pass/fail status, scaled scores, detailed interactions). Choose SCORM 1.2 (Universal Compatibility) if your LMS is older or only accepts 1.2.
Target LMS	Pick your LMS (Moodle, Canvas, Blackboard, D2L Brightspace) to get tailored import steps shown right on the page, or choose Generic (Universal) if your LMS isn't listed. This choice doesn't change the package — it only tailors the on-screen instructions.
Include detailed criteria reporting	On by default. Sends a detailed breakdown of the simulation's feedback criteria into the LMS gradebook (as individual results and a comment), not just the overall score. Turn it off if you only want a single score.

Step 3 — Generate and download the package

Click Generate SCORM Package.
When it finishes, a .zip file downloads to your computer (for example, scorm-package-<name>-2004.zip).

💡 You may also see a Generate Shared Package button. It produces the same package, so use whichever button you see.

⚠️ Don't unzip the file. Upload the .zip exactly as downloaded — your LMS extracts it automatically.

The package's launch key

Each package you generate carries its own launch key. Cesura uses it to confirm that a learner launch comes from a package Cesura issued. Generating another package adds a new key, and packages you generated earlier keep working. Cesura keeps the keys of the 200 most recent packages for each activity; a package older than that stops launching.

Treat the package like any course file: anyone who has it can launch the activity. Keep it inside your LMS.

Exported a package before late September 2026? Those packages have no launch key. Cesura keeps accepting them for about 180 days after that update. After that, learner launches from them can fail. Generate a new package and replace the old one in your LMS before then.

Step 4 — Upload the package to your LMS

When you select a Target LMS in Step 2, Cesura shows step-by-step import instructions for that platform right below the buttons. Here are the essentials for the common ones:

Moodle

Open your course and Turn editing on.
Click Add an activity or resource and choose SCORM package.
Upload the downloaded .zip, adjust any settings, then Save and display.

Canvas

In your course, go to Settings > Import Course Content.
Choose SCORM package as the content type and upload the .zip.
Choose your import options and click Import. The activity appears in your course modules.

Blackboard

Open the content area where you want the activity.
Click Build Content > SCORM Package and upload the .zip.
Configure the package settings and Submit.

D2L Brightspace

Go to Content > Add Existing Activities and select SCORM.
Upload the .zip, configure settings, and Save.

💡 Other LMS? Any SCORM-conformant LMS works the same way: find its "add SCORM package / SCORM activity" option and upload the .zip as-is. Set Target LMS to Generic (Universal) when exporting.

💡 Editing the simulation later? The package launches the live simulation, so edits you make in Cesura appear automatically — you don't need to re-export. Export and re-upload only when you want to deliver a different simulation, or to replace a package that has no launch key.

What learners experience

A learner opens the activity in their LMS course and the simulation loads right there — no separate Cesura login or account is required. Their identity comes from the LMS, so repeat attempts are recognized as the same learner. Cesura records each SCORM learner as an anonymous member of the space and never links them to a Cesura account, even when the LMS sends an email address. Because the simulation runs live from Cesura, learners need an internet connection. Each attempt runs on Cesura like any other simulation, so learner activity is processed by Cesura and counts toward your usage the same way as a normal run.

The package allows the camera, microphone, and screen capture, so proctoring tools that watch the webcam or screen can work inside your LMS.

💡 Best experience on Safari / iPhone / iPad: some browsers restrict content embedded inside another page. If your LMS lets you set the SCORM activity to open in a new window (rather than embedded in the course page), choose that — it's the most reliable and gives learners the full-screen simulation.

Results in your gradebook

As the learner progresses and finishes, the package reports back to your LMS automatically:

Score — the simulation's overall score is written to the LMS gradebook.
Completion & pass/fail — the activity is marked completed when the learner finishes, with a passed/failed status where your SCORM version supports it.
Detailed criteria — when Include detailed criteria reporting is on, each feedback criterion is reported individually, plus a summary comment in the gradebook.
Resume — if a learner leaves partway through, the session can resume where they left off.

Results are reported as the learner completes the simulation; how soon they appear depends on your LMS. If a result is missing, the most common reasons are that the learner didn't finish, or that Include detailed criteria reporting was off when the package was exported.

Troubleshooting

Symptom	Likely cause & fix
"Save the simulation first to generate SCORM packages."	The simulation hasn't been saved yet. Save it, and the version/LMS options and the download button appear.
The LMS rejects the upload or the activity won't open	Upload the `.zip` exactly as downloaded — don't extract it first. If your LMS only accepts SCORM 1.2, re-export with the SCORM Version set to 1.2.
Blank screen, or it only works in a small frame on Safari/iPhone/iPad	Set the SCORM activity to open in a new window in your LMS, and make sure learners have internet access.
A voice or video simulation never starts inside the LMS, and the browser never asks for the microphone	Your LMS is showing the package in its own frame and does not pass the microphone through — Moodle’s embedded SCORM player does not. Set Display package to New window (or your LMS’s equivalent). The package itself already allows the microphone, camera, and screen capture; a frame it sits inside can still withhold them.
Scores or completion don't appear in the gradebook	Confirm the learner actually finished the simulation. For a detailed breakdown, make sure Include detailed criteria reporting was on when you exported.
I don't see a SCORM tab	The SCORM tab appears when editing a simulation and requires edit access to it. Make sure you opened the simulation in the editor and that you have the Instructor or Admin role in the space.
"SCORM packages are only available in a space whose access level is LMS."	Change the space's Access Level to LMS — SCORM / LTI 1.3 in the space settings, then return to the SCORM tab.
"SCORM export isn't available with Safe Exam Browser delivery."	The activity uses Safe Exam Browser only delivery. SCORM and Safe Exam Browser cannot be combined; choose one.
An older package stops launching	Packages exported before late September 2026 have no launch key and can stop working about 180 days after that update. Generate a new package and replace the old one in your LMS.

SCORM or LTI 1.3 — which should I use?

	SCORM	LTI 1.3
Setup	Export a file and upload it — no administrator connection needed.	An admin connects Cesura to your LMS once.
Adding activities	One package per simulation; later edits to it update automatically.	Instructors pick activities directly inside the LMS (deep linking).
Grades	Reported via the SCORM package.	Automatic grade passback.
Rosters	Not synced.	Synced automatically.
Best for	Quick, self-contained delivery; when you can't set up LTI.	An ongoing, managed integration.

Need a hand? Reach out through Contact support under Get help in the sidebar and we'll help you get set up.