Where Cognitive Science, Interaction Design and Data Dwell: The Competencies of xAPIAaron E. Silvers, Partner MakingBetter

Web Conference at Penn State June 23, 2015

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@aaronesilvers #psuweb

(Batman?)

“WHO ARE YOU?”

Uh, what is xAPI?

The Experience API is a standard way of talking about our experiences, using data.

The Experience API

Image courtesy of Rustici Software

The Experience API (xAPI)• Can track many different types of experiences — including

things that people do on the web, in mobile applications, with wearables, in classrooms and in workplace environments

• Moves beyond a web-based, didactic model

• Promotes better design and technology practices

• Makes integration with other systems and practices easier

• Provides a way to gather and use more useful information.

It answers a lot of ‘How’ type questions…

• How can I inform better business decisions?

• How do I avoid locking us into a solution?

• How can I make investments in learning development last longer and more future-proof?

• How can I make sure what I evaluate today is useful in the future?

• How will I connect a learner’s activities across multiple applications?

Someone Did Something

“Observations”

Noun Verb Object

(To Someone) (Using Stuff) (With Some Result)

How Does Experience API Work?

• People interact with “stuff” (i.e. content, apps, business systems, etc.)

• These interactions are observed and described as statements.

• The “stuff” sends the statements to a Learning Record Store.

Image courtesy of HT2

What is a Learning Record Store, or LRS?

• It’s a database that stores activity statements - the “data”

• LRSs can be software (even hardware) that stands on its own.

• LRSs can be a part of data appliances, enterprise applications and learning management system (LMS)

LMS vs. LRSA Learning Record Store (LRS) addresses one capability of a typical

Learning Management System (LMS).

User Management Learning Records Scheduling

Course Management Statistics Grade Book

Tracking eLearning Content Storage Search

Assignments Sequencing Delivery

Preferences Reports Assessment

Using DataJust important as

getting data into an LRS for storage is

getting the data out to use it.

Image courtesy of HT2

Image courtesy of HT2

The Gartner Hype CycleThe Experience API is providing ROI at unprecedented scale…

Image courtesy of HT2

Who’s Doing What With xAPI?

National Louis University

Teacher candidates learn high-impact teaching practices

through virtual observation, coaching and analysis.

http://connectionsforum.com/vimeo-video/marty-rosenheck-driving-innovation-in-teacher-education/

University of Central Florida

http://connectionsforum.com/vimeo-video/david-rogers-on-xapi-in-medicine/

mHealth coaching for psychological disorders,

tracking both curricular and physical activity.

RFED at Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum

Using mobile technology and xAPI to personalize the learning

experience in a museum.

http://www.tryxapi.com/case-study/museum.html

PJM

Annotating, underlining and highlighting work documents on the front lines of a high-stakes

compliance environment – controlling 20% of the United

States’ energy grid.

http://connectionsforum.com/vimeo-video/megan-bowe-on-designing-analytics-for-xapi/

http://connectionsforum.com/vimeo-video/art-werkenthin/

More Case Studies

• http://connectionsforum.com/xapi-case-studies/

• http://tryxapi.com/

So, What Do I Need to Know to Work With xAPI?

Competencies / Attitudes

Systems Thinking Integration Facilitation

A Maker Mindset Assume you have permission to tinker

Make, maintain and grow useful connections

Surface goals big & inviting enough to motivate action

Be The Change Interrogate perceived boundary conditions

Identify new paradigms supported by both sides of

double-binds

Inspire others, modeling how to navigate through shifting

paradigms

“Yes. And..” Augment rather than change discrete systems

Seek connections and overlaps that add value beyond the

immediate contextHelp others avoid negation

What’s My Roadmap to Work With xAPI?

1) Describe the Dream

• What outcomes happen as a result?

• How are people learning or working?

• What problems are solved?

• How far out is this future?

• What might change beyond this?

2) Define Gaps Between Today and the Ideal

• What capabilities exist vs. what capabilities are needed?

• What do people “do” vs. what they “need to do?”

• How do today’s business requirements match with business goals for the ideal?

3) Sketch It• What are the workflows?

• How do existing tools support the workflows?

• What new tools are needed?

• How does this model fit with stakeholder expectations?

• What are the critical paths and how are they prioritized?

• How can this model be simplified/scaled/phased?

• What dependencies are inherent? What dependencies are external?

4) Put a Plan Together

• What is the technical approach?

• How will the system(s) and/or service(s) architecture work?

• What do the interfaces look like?

• How will success be defined?

• What is the project plan?

5) Reach Out http://list.ly/list/ghi-xapi-twitterers

#xAPI

#learnxAPI

http://connectionsforum.com/

@aaronesilvers

aaron@makingbetter.us

http://makingbetter.us/