xAPI is a specification that allows learning activities and experiences to be tracked across systems and applications. It provides a standardized way to send, receive, and store data about learning and performance. xAPI provides more detailed data than SCORM and can track both formal and informal learning experiences. There are several ways for instructional designers and organizations to implement xAPI, including using authoring tools, aggregators, custom code, or importing data from other systems. xAPI data needs to be organized and structured properly to ensure it is useful for analysis.
3. xAPI is …
X = experience
API = application programming interface
Specification for sending, storing, retrieving
activity about learning and performance
experiences
Not so much “next generation SCORM”
as it is “what will replace SCORM.”
Experience API is
…
Tin Can API is …
6. Mohammed
published
a blog post titled “10 Ways xAPI is better than
SCORM”
Oron rated event xAPI for Instructional Designers 5 stars
“coffee rocked, nice use of PowerPoint” with
@MMTorrance
Cynthia sold premium synthetic oil
Ladan simulated landing at DTW successfully
Arthi simulated landing at DTW successfully with a score of 98%
in SimSuite #4 by Instructor Tim
Claire read Business Writing for
ProfessionalsJohn practiced frosting birthday cakes
Lindsey watched the Company History video
Rashad completed Oil Change Upselling
Cynthia completed Oil Change Upselling score
60%
Actor verb object result context
7. What can you do with xAPI?
• Learn more about the learning experience – not just elearning
• Learn more about the performance
• Correlate learning with performance
• Offer more targeted training
• Support performance in better ways
• Use data to learn with others
• Connect data across different learning experiences
• Compare performance and learning across learners
• Deliver and track training outside of the LMS
• Track offline training
8. 5 ways to
send the
data
1. Use your current elearning authoring tools
2. Get your product vendor to send the data
3. Use aggregator like xapiapps to assemble
things that aren’t xAPI into a thing that is
4. Write some custom code
5. Import from business data
9. AUTHORING TOOLS
Out of the box:
• SCORM-like transactions
• Individual page views
• Actions and triggers (depends)
With a little JavaScript or with xapi.ly:
• Any action or trigger you want
Bonus: use both xAPI and SCORM
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10.
11. OTHER ACTIVITY PROVIDERS
Not really “authoring tools,” but very deep
learning experiences, LXPs, LMCSes, etc. that
send xAPI data.
THIS LIST IS INCOMPLETE
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13. Tools that originate outside of the L&D space are
starting to adopt xAPI … because someone
asked!
THIS LIST IS INCOMPLETE
THIS LIST IS GROWING
14. Social Individual
Predictable Variable
Learning Performance
Formative Summative
Learner Observer Environment
Volume
Velocity
Variety
Variability
Value
Veracity
A cursory look at your learning &
performance data
15. !
Design a solution to
meet stated needs
!
Remove a
kidney stone
!
Provide verbal feedback
to teammates
! Collect & enter
data accurately
!
Nail roof
shingles safely
Practice in
Training
Know . . .
Business Goal
that solves a
Business Problem
Adapted from: Cathy Moore
16. Kirkpatrick Levels
of Training Evaluation + Cathy Moore
16
Level 2 Level 3 Level 4
On the Job
Behaviors
!
Knowledge &
Retention: Testing
Business
Results
Level 1
Satisfaction &
Experience
18. Our brains
are designed
to forget
18
The Ebbinghaus
forgetting curve
https://www.learningsolutionsmag.com/articles/1400/brain-
science-overcoming-the-forgetting-curve
Spaced repetition
“Boostering”
20. Gottfredson & Mosher’s
(& Torrance’s)
Moments of
Learning Need &
Opportunity
5 Moments of Learning Need: Gottfredson & Mosher
9 Moments of Opporunity: Torrance
Apply
New
More
Solve
Change
Before
Prepare
Remember
Teach
22. The
Learning
Record
Store
… receives, stores, gives back xAPI data
… can be tested for conformance which
ensures interoperability
(https://adopters.adlnet.gov/)
… is not a learning management system (LMS)
23. 3 ½ ways to
receive data:
the Learning
Record
Store
1. Your LMS has an LRS inside it.
Your LMS has a conformant LRS inside it.
2. You send data to an LRS separate from an
LMS.
3. You build your own LRS
(the code is open source).
24. A typical
LMS today
(and who has just
one?!?!)
Users
Course
s
Enrollments
SCOR
M Data
Reporting
Courses
Classe
s
Certs
Badges
SocialLearning
Messaging
Performance,Talenthooks
Reporting
Game
s
Sims
Perf
Supp
Dash
boards
eCommerce
Import/Export to Biz Data
31. LEARNING RECORD STORES
Out of the box:
• Data storage & retrieval
• Visualizations & reporting
Connecting to analytics
• Tableau, Microsoft BI, Envision BI, etc.
UP TO DATE LIST OF CONFORMANT LRS:
https://adopters.adlnet.gov/
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32. LMSes WITH LRS INSIDE
Out of the box:
• Learning management functions
• SCORM & AICC
• Full xAPI LRS
• Data includes both LMS & xAPI
UP TO DATE LIST OF CONFORMANT LRS:
https://adopters.adlnet.gov/
THIS LIST IS INCOMPLETE
THIS LIST IS GROWING
LearnShare
32
33. LMSes WITH “xAPI SUPPORT”
These are non-conformant LRSes.
Out of the box:
• Learning management functions
• SCORM & AICC
• Launch &/or store xAPI
They may struggle with:
• Accepting statements from outside the LMS
• Reporting data in extensions
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34. LMSes THAT CONNECT TO YOUR LRS
These systems are learning record providers.
What you can expect:
• xAPI statements from courses & experiences
• Non-SCORM LMS activity, too
• To buy an LRS also
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36. How do I make sure that the data isn’t a total
mess?
37. Actor verb object result context
mtorrance@torrancelearning.com
mtorrrrance@torrancelearning.com
mmtorrance@gmail.com
mmtorrance
mmtorrance (on
learning.acme.com)
@MMTorrance
6822984230
39. Create & organize unique
identifiers
(not actual URLs)
Follow a guide to activity types:
http://xapi.vocab.pub
Know what your software sends
https://acme.com/xapi/activities/elearning/coursetitle/moduletitle/activityname
https://acme.com/xapi/activities/video/videotitle
https://acme.com/xapi/activities/ebook/ebooktitle
https://acme.com/xapi/curricula/curriculumtitle
Sample
structure
Actor verb object result context
42. What can
you do with
the data?
Evaluate & improve the learning experience
Dashboards and visualizations for decision-
making
Personalization of pathways
Recommendations for content
Action triggers & rules
44. Start
learning
more …
xAPI Camp
xAPI Hands-On & Geek-Free
ATD LearnNow
Learning Solutions Magazine
xAPI Learning Cohort Fall Cohort Started 9/5
www.learnxapi.com
Vendor sites
45. Get started!
xapicohort.com
Free 12-week, vendor-neutral learning-by-doing-in-teams experience.
Weekly web meetings 2-3pm ET (recorded). Winter/Spring & Fall
Ad hoc teams form to tackle a project together and provide weekly report-
outs.
46. FORMING STORMING NORMING PERFORMING
xAPI needs geeks Geek-free tools emerge
Communities of Practice work to define usage
Conformance & Certification emerge
Project Tin Can Specification Standard
More common
than SCORM
Is xAPI ready for prime time?