A presentation made by Stuart Claggett from Dig-iT! games on the journey to finding a new solution for collecting learning data from serious games. Learn how xAPI became the solution and how Dig-iT! games then took the project global launching an open-source community called GBlxAPI (https://gblxapi.org) for using xAPI in games and creating a profile and deeper vocabulary for K-12 education has yet to embrace xAPI.
The session included references to free tools including an API for use with Unity3D game engine to simplify getting xAPI into games. Other tools include an xAPI design sheet to help you organize your learning data before implementing it in your organization and serious games.
Aspirational Block Program Block Syaldey District - Almora
A Deep Dive Implementing xAPI in Learning Games
1. A Deep Dive on Implementing
xAPI in Learning Games
Research Support provided by
DEVLEARN 2018
2.
3.
4.
5. Potential xAPI Benefits
Freedom from proprietary formats Transparent learning outcomes
Openly exchange data with other educators Easier integration to other systems
Very flexible for our industry Decreased training requirements
Control over where student data is stored Easily share parent friendly reports
Access to real-time reporting Available to any product on any device
Vendor agnostic learning analysis &
comparisons
Track blended learning
Standard formats for third party tools Simplified data collection
6. Prototype - JavaScript HTML5 Game
Used existing libraries
Reporting only in LRS
Promising but not perfect
12. Learning Record Store
Basic Reports
Game 1
User DB
SQL
Optional
API
Mobile Web UI
Services Layer
Workflow/Rules
R Interface
Alerts/Messaging
Widget/Algorithms
One Dashboard Custom Dashboard
Data Layer (Cubes)
Reports and Graphs AI Engine
Analysis & Advanced
Reporting (optional)
Game 2
App 3
GBLxAPI –Hosted or
Your Server
1
2
3
Event
Capture
16. Domain Extension Published Catalog
https://w3id.org/xapi/gblxapi/extensions/domain (GBLxAPI Profile)
PERMANENT URIs FOR LEARNING ACTIVITY CONTEXT @ GBLXAPI.ORG2450
17. Context Example in an xAPI Statement
Extension xAPI id – Resolvable Permanent URI Name
domain https://gblxapi.org/domain/number-operations-ten number and operations in base ten
https://gblxapi.org/domain/history history
subdomain https://gblxapi.org/subdomain/problem-solving problem solving
skill https://gblxapi.org/skill/calculation-computation calculation and computation
https://gblxapi.org/skill/patterns-relationships patterns and relationships
topic https://gblxapi.org/topic/arithmetic arithmetic
focus https://gblxapi.org/focus/addition-subtraction addition/subtraction
https://gblxapi.org/focus/primary-sources primary sources
https://gblxapi.org/focus/algebraic-thinking algebraic thinking
action https://gblxapi.org/action/solve-problems solve problems
https://gblxapi.org/action/apply apply
29. xAPI is being adopted by Fortune
500 companies and the Federal
Government
Absolutely Not – xAPI is
the E-Learning Data
Specification for the Future
30. Summary
xAPI is Here– But We Are All Experimenting in Production
Track Learning and Non-learning Events in Games
Create a xAPI Design Document
Context Data – Create A Vocabulary Catalog for Normalization
Use xAPI Profiles Wherever Possible
Prototype – Then Make Continuous Improvements
Use existing reporting software if possible
Have a Data Management Plan
A representation on the state of learning data in the community today. Every island may or may not have resource data but it generally has no way of being interoperable.
Mixpanel
Custom
Google Analytics
Reporting was especially for external was probably
Served the min requirements of our original custom system
We we creating too many URIs of our own
The structure of the URIs was not very organized
Use of context data was weak
The GBLxAPI project is over 3 years old as an open-source learning data project for learning analytics. It uses the xAPI specification.
The project goals of the research now know as GBLxAPI is to create a global learning data standard for K-12 educational products including games. The data should be interoperable, transparent, normalized, simple to use and flexible.
A bold plan to create a framework for all learning games
Results from the NSF researcher showed that data is critical for the game based learning community long-term.
90% of Game developers agree that standardization is a key to moving the industry forward.
Reporting was not going to meet our requirements from an LRS
Reviewed several BI tools
During our research six core vocabulary types were identified for the K-12 community based on past standards research. These are now context extensions for xAPI for the GBLxAPI community of practice profile.
Here is an example of how a vocabulary type was created based on four different educational standards.
Reports can be created in most xAPI compliant learning record stores but further analysis can be performed by business intelligence platforms.
Implementation was designed to take advantage of years of xAPI investments that would allow acceleration of the GBLxAPI standard. An organized developer can have data reporting to an LRS in less than two weeks using community tools. GBLxAPI does not exclude using your existing data system.
Free excel design tool to help you get organized
If executed GBLxAPI could provide data for personalized learning using game-based learning.
xAPI is a foundation for GBLxAPI that is solidly growing in the broader e-learning community.
Learning data continues to be a struggle in the K-12 community and standardization is a key issue. Let’s stop kicking the can down the road and act now using GBLxAPI.
