As xAPI adoption takes hold, learning professionals are increasingly looking to learn about this new(ish) data specification and what it is used for: analytics, credentialing, personalization and recommendation, and within the workflow. Successful adopters of xAPI for learning analytics and action have three things in common: a data-driven mindset, a data toolset, and a strategy for success. xAPI tools and platforms are ready. Are you?

In this session we will explore what xAPI is and share case studies of how it can be used to drive evaluation, measurement, and decision-making. We’ll wrap up with a roadmap for implementation and insights into next steps for implementation.

We will start with an introduction to xAPI: what kinds of data can be gathered and how it’s different from the limited (but standardized) data we can obtain from eLearning and SCORM. Participants will have the opportunity to create and view their own xAPI statements using a mobile web app that shows both the learner-facing and the data-facing side of xAPI. Next, we will touch briefly on the types of tools that are necessary for a learning data ecosystem: data senders, data storage, analytics tools, and other integrations with business data. Third, we’ll answer the question: Now that I’ve got all this data, what do I do with it? We will share and discuss a framework for using learning data that includes archiving, analyzing it, and acting on it. This session wraps up with a phased roadmap approach to implementing xAPI and learning analytics—from prototyping and piloting production level projects and full scale implementation. This road map offers participants the ability to identify where their own organization is in its journey, and what steps might be ahead.

In this session you will learn:

• How to describe xAPI in a compelling way to get buy-in from organizational leaders
• A framework for thinking about how we can use learning data
• A roadmap for implementation that includes data sources, data storage, relationships, and strategies
• A process cycle for analyzing data to drive decision-making and action

Technology discussed:

xAPI, LRS, SCORM, analytics, LMS, LXP