Presenation at mLearnCon 2014 on EPUB3 and Experience API (xAPI)

1. EPUB 3 and the xAPI:EPUB 3 and the xAPI:
An Open Platform for Activity-based Mobile LearningAn Open Platform for Activity-based Mobile Learning
25 June 2014, San
DiegoTyde Richards and Jason
Haag

2. Overview
The SCORM Heritage
The IEEE LTSC SCORM Study Group
The IEEE Actionable Data Book
Q&A

3. The Rise of SCORM
~1997 Web-based learning takes off
Technically based on browser + Web server
New requirements for interoperability
ADL and others collaborate on SCORM
SCORM achieves global adoption

4. The SCORM Interoperability Model
SCOSCO
Learning Specific Structure Learning Specific Content
ClientClient
Zip FileZip File
Web browser
“dumb”
Learning Management System
Business logic

5. The Sharable Content Object
IEEE 1484.12.1
IEEE 1484.11.2
IEEE 1484.11.1

6. 2010 - A Changed Context
SCORM mature - loss of momentum
Accelerating pace of new technologies
–Maturation of Open Web Platform
–Big data and cloud-based services
–Mobile Platforms
Interest in learning interoperability declines
IEEE LTSC Study Group on SCORM

7. Transition Time Between Paradigms
MainframeMainframe
Personal
Computer
Personal
Computer
Web
Browser
Web
Browser
Something
Else
Something
Else
UnstableUnstable UnstableUnstable UnstableUnstable
We are here

8. Enter xAPI
Traditional SCORM: Content + Runtime
xAPI as the new Runtime?
Solves know problems
– RESTful API, extensions
New future oriented-affordances
– [Cloud | Big | Semantic | Activity Stream ] data
Right solution for new times

9. xAPI Background
Developed by open source community
Tracks experiences, informal learning, real-
world experiences (not just courses)
Allows data storage & retrieval (mobile apps,
games, ITS, and virtual worlds experiences,
team/group activities)
Machine and human readable (uses natural
language)

10. xAPI Background
Project “Tin Can API”
Based on http://activitystrea.ms
Collaboration between Google, Facebook,
Microsoft and others

11. xAPI Background
Allows reporting of experiences, not just
completions
Statement format:
Simple: I (actor) watched (verb) a video
on protecting employee data (activity)
Complex: in the context of [information
assurance certification training
course ] with result [timestamp:2013-
0618T18:30:32.360Z ].

12. Statement (Actor, Verb, Object)
12

13. An xAPI Statement Properties
ID
Actor
Object
Verb
Result
Context
Timestamp
Attachments

14. What is the Learning Record
Store?
Reportin
g
Systems
Reportin
g
Systems
Assessme
nt
Services
Assessme
nt
Services
Semantic
Analysis
Semantic
Analysis
Statistic
al
Services
Statistic
al
Services

15. xAPI Resources & Adoption
15
‣ xAPI Specification & Documentation
‣ https://github.com/adlnet/xAPI-Spec/
‣ xAPI JavaScript Wrapper
‣ https://github.com/adlnet/xAPIWrapper
‣ Learning Record Store
‣ https://github.com/adlnet/ADL_LRS
‣ Adoption
‣ 8 LRS Solutions (open source & commercial)
‣ Integrated into eLearning authoring tools
‣ Over 200 active participants in WG & Cohorts

16. To carry SCORM forward …
xAPI modernizes the SCORM runtime
Is that it?
What about a modernized content strategy?
Is that desirable or even possible?
IEEE LTSC considered many technologies
Concluded both possible and desirable

17. EPUB 3
New open format for eBooks
Developed by IDPF
Adopts HTML5 as content format
eBook now packaged Website on mobile device
Implications for interactivity: huge but unexplored

18. A New but Familiar Architecture
HTML
5
HTML
5
Generic Structure Generic Content
eBook ReadereBook Reader
epub Zip Fileepub Zip File
book services

19. EPUB 3 and SCORM
SCORM EPUB 3
Architecture Glue parts together Intrinsic whole
Control Server Mobile platform
Content format Out of scope HTML5
Player Out of scope eBook Reader
User Experience Out of scope W3C CSS
Sustainability Not Sustainable Sustainable
Accessibility Out of scope Central focus

20. IEEE Actionable Data Book
R&D Project Sponsored by IEEE LTSC
EPUB 3 as mobile learning delivery platform
Carry forward SCORM concepts as appropriate
Assume cloud (xAPI), device, Internet of Things
communication
2013 Feasibility Study
2014-15 Build something

21. EPUB 3 for Learning Delivery ?
At first – way outside the box …
Rapid change during past year
10/2013 IDPF EDUPUB Alliance
– Collaboration with IMS GLC, W3C, Publishers
– Producing education sector EPUB 3 profile
– Addressing reuse, analytics, accessibility, etc.
IBM EPUB 3 adoption

22. 2013 - xAPI in EPUB
eBook ReadereBook Reader xAPI – cloud data
EPUB 3 eBook
•HTML
•CSS
•JavaScript
• xAPI Library
Guess what? It just works ….
If the reader allows communication

23. 2013 – Mapping SCORM to EPUB 3
HTML
5
HTML
5
Generic Structure Generic Content
epub Zip Fileepub Zip File
device capabilities
eBook ReadereBook Reader xAPI – cloud data
Activity

24. eBooks and APPs
Common PlayerCommon Player
• Two different communities
• Move past the “book” thing
• Move past the “app” thing
• Complimentary technologies
• Something new and better ?
Common APICommon API
Common ContentCommon Content
Mobile PlatformMobile Platform

25. Flexible Delivery Options
ActivityActivity
Common PlayerCommon Player
APP
+
Page
s
Page
s
“eTextbook” “HTML5 SCORM”
ActivitiesActivities ActivitiesActivities
eBook
Page
s
Page
s

26. 2014 – ADL xAPI Design Cohort
Collaborating with imbuElearning
K12 learning-to-read use case
Defining an xAPI vocabulary for eBooks
Exploring xAPI generality
– Accessibility and user preferences
– Annotations

27. beforebefore
afterafter
Activity Set (eBook)
Activity + (page set)
beforebefore
afterafter
Location + (page)
beforebefore
afterafter
xAPI
xAPI
xAPI
xAPI
xAPI
xAPI
xAPIduringduring duringduring duringduring
2014 – Define Activity Model
EPUB 3
Page Overlay

28. 2014 – Towards an Activity Player
Support EPUB 3-based Activity Model + xAPI
Exploring EPUB 3 readers
Exploring Phonegap as HTML5 mobile technology
Exploring support for low energy Bluetooh
Very interested in OMLET (JKO Mobile) technology
Looks like an integration problem

29. EPUB 3 Prototypes / Demos
‣ EPUB 3 + xAPI: iBooks, Readium, EPUB.js, Calibre
‣ Additional areas to investigate:
‣ Client / reader xAPI implementation
‣ Synchronize bookmarks using xAPI across
platforms & readers
‣ Accessibility
‣ Annotations + EPUB testing in more readers

30. EPUB 3 +Annotator + xAPI
30

31. Open Annotation (JSON-LD)
31

32. An xAPI Statement Properties
Id
Actor
Object
Verb
Result
Context
Timestamp
Attachments

33. DEMO

34. DEMO

35. If interested in this work …
IEEE ADB an open collaboration
Weekly virtual meetings (9am Friday US Eastern)
Compliments IEEE LTSC xAPI Study Group
Contact tyderichards@gmail.com
Q&A

36. Thank You! Questions?
Tyde Richards
IEEE LTSC
info@ieee-ltsc.org
Jason Haag
jason.haag.ctr@adlnet.gov
@mobilejson