Duncan Welder, RISC Inc.'s Director of Client Services, discusses the use of everyday sources of xAPI data. From SharePoint to your existing LMS, xAPI can be easy, fast and inexpensive to add to application to extend and enhance the ability to tracking learner performance and evaluate the use of training materials. This presentation takes a deep dive into the simple example of enabling Forums and Discussion Groups with xAPI.

1. Everyday Sources of
xAPI data
XAPI LIVE
APRIL 27, 2017

2. risc-inc.com
@duncanwiv
duncanww@risc-inc.com
• Director of Client Services,
RISC, Inc.
• LMS Implementation
• High Compliance Industries
• xAPI Quarterly author
Duncan Welder

3. Community Challenge
Where do I get started?

4. Start Small and Build
• What data do I need?
• What resources existing in my current
ecosystem?
• Kick the tires
• Sell xAPI internally

5. xAPI to Evaluate Materials Use
How are your learners interacting with training
materials?
What is still valid?
Where do questions arise?
What are opportunities to streamline training?
Let’s take a look…

6. Existing System Integration
Sharepoint
◦ Saltbox xAPI Integration
Websites
◦ Grassblade xAPI Connector
◦ WordPress Plugin
xAPI Bookmarks
◦ Rustici
◦ Torrance Learning

7. Existing System Integration
Blogs
• YouTube Videos
– ADL Source

8. Existing System Integration
• LMS
• Why doesn’t the LMS leverage the
LRS as well? Too many random
sources?
Verb consistency is critical!
• ILT Registrations
• Approvals
• Performance
Assessment
• Tests
• Status Changes
• Resources
• Searches
• Documents

9. xAPI Statement Content

10. • Track user behavior
– Participation
– Posting or Replying
– Engagement
• Identify star performers
– Voted Up
– Accepted
• Identify developmental opportunities
– Voted Down
• Tracking Poll Results (over time)
Why, Why, Why xAPI?

11. • Joining
– Manually or Assigned
• Leaving
– Engagement time
• Using Extensions
Joining & Leaving Groups

12. • What topics are HOT!
• Context identifies the parent
• Grouping tracks threads
Posting & Replying

13. • Who is contributing positively?
• Whose answers are accepted?
• Who is engaged?
• Are there trends for down votes?
Voting Up, Down & Accepted

14. • There is no deleting in the LRS!
• Wait, what if an accepted
answer is… “Unaccepted?”
What about deletes?

15. Selling xAPI Internally
• What are the benefits?
• What intelligence are we missing out on?
• What ‘new methods’ of training can we now document?
Don’t worry about the plumbing!

16. • Research verbs, activity types and extensions
– 5X more time spent on research than coding
– Created only one context extension
– Statement validation
• Where possible, do not create new
– http://xapi.vocab.pub/datasets/adl/
– https://registry.experienceapi.com/#
– https://www.adlnet.gov/adl-collaboration/xapi-community-of-practice/
• Our “recipe”
http://xapiquarterly.com/2016/10/instrumenting-xapi-in-
forums-discussion-groups/
Vocabulary Considerations

17. Resources
Connections Forum http://connectionsforum.com/
Grassblade Companion
https://nextsoftwaresolutions.zendesk.com/hc/en-
us/categories/200115959-GrassBlade-xAPI-Companion
Rustici http://rusticisoftware.com/
Rustici xAPI Developer Resources
http://experienceapi.com/resources/
Saltbox/Wax LRS http://www.saltbox.com/home.html
Torrance Learning http://www.torrancelearning.com/

18. Resources
Torrance Learning Bookmarklet
http://www.torrancelearning.com/xapi/bookmarklet/
TryxAPI http://www.tryxapi.com/
Watershed https://www.watershedlrs.com/
WordPress xAPI Plugin
https://wordpress.org/support/view/plugin-reviews/wp-
experience-api
Yet Analytics http://www.yetanalyatics
YouTube xAPI Player https://github.com/adlnet/xapi-
youtube