Experiential Learning is tracked (sometimes), on mobile devices (sometimes), openly (sometimes), and sometimes offline.
xAPI is an e-learning specification that enables data collection about people’s online and offline experiences. Shared formats of sending and receiving data makes it an emerging tool for sharing learning experiences across multiple systems, yet while it is not new it can still be considered emerging. Skills verification, compliance training, workplace onboarding and safety certification are all types of learning that are tracked in an LMS, but how do you track real-world experiences? There is more potential in a learning-analytics-tracking corporate LMS than this to showcase professional networking, coaching, books read, progress in a serious game, knowledge sharing at work, and interacting with peers on social media. Digital Badges may be earned, show proof of verified skills, and may be shared on social media like LinkedIn, but this is often separated from tracked progress in workplace learning systems. Wouldn’t it be better to have a simple way to showcase all of your experiences without the barriers of sharing information from a corporate LMS, from a college or university LMS, from Eventbrite, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube…
What is xAPI? You can learn more in a 1-minute read at https://xapi.com/overview/.
Seems like a smart way to collect and share information across systems, so why don’t we hear about it more often and what are some of the barriers to adopting xAPI? It may be difficult to convert online and offline jobs done in the workplace into a set of standard xAPI statements. It may be difficult for a company to open its LMS data to outside systems. Saba (https://www.saba.com/industries/technology) is one of the common workplace talent/compliance training LMSs and is an adopter of xAPI. While your company or academic institution may have rationalized data security over data sharing, many companies that understand the relevance of learning analytics, mobile apps, and social learning, are experimenting with xAPI. Check out the growing list of adopters https://xapi.com/adopters/ . You may be surprised to see so many companies that you’re familiar with.
The site you reference is a great introduction to xAPI and their free xAPI course was recommended in an instructional design workshop I participated in recently. I haven’t taken it myself but I believe it is free and you learn by doing.
Great resource!
Ben, thanks for this interesting introduction to xAPI. It’s new to me. I like the idea of being able to collect all of this information in one place, as there is still generally a separation between all these facets of our learning and experience. As a teacher, I can see how this could be useful in the field of education, as students can record and showcase so much more than their in-school learning. Many schools have dabbled in the use of portfolios, both physical and digital, over many years, but there are limitations to this. I believe that as mobile learning in its many forms becomes more and more prevalent in our society, xAPI could be an excellent solution to keeping track of all that learning and more, in all kinds of settings.