Web technology standards emerged in the early 2000s that reinforced the use of the desktop web browser. After 15 years, we all are part of a new revolution in what it means “to be online” thanks to APIs and connected devices. The Experience API (xAPI) is a new standard, encouraging a new type of practitioner who helps people learn and improve through cognitive science, interaction design and data. In this session, we'll talk about xAPI and highlight the new competencies needed to work with it.

1. Where Cognitive Science,
Interaction Design and Data
Dwell: The Competencies of xAPI
Aaron E. Silvers, Partner
MakingBetter
Web Conference at Penn State
June 23, 2015
USE THE TWITTER!!!!!
@aaronesilvers #psuweb

2. (Batman?)
“WHO ARE YOU?”

3. Uh, what is xAPI?

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

5. The Experience API
Image courtesy of Rustici Software

6. 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.

7. 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?

8. Someone Did Something
“Observations”
Noun Verb Object
(To Someone) (Using Stuff) (With Some Result)

9. 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.

10. Image courtesy of HT2

11. 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)

12. LMS vs. LRS
A 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

13. Using Data
Just important as
getting data into an
LRS for storage is
getting the data out to
use it.
Image courtesy of HT2

14. Image courtesy of HT2

15. The Gartner Hype Cycle
The Experience API is providing ROI at unprecedented scale…
Image courtesy of HT2

16. Who’s Doing What With xAPI?

17. 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/

18. 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.

19. 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

20. 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/

21. More Case Studies
• http://connectionsforum.com/xapi-case-studies/
• http://tryxapi.com/

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

23. 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 context
Help others avoid negation

24. What’s My Roadmap to Work
With xAPI?

25. 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?

26. 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?

27. 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?

28. 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?

29. 5) Reach Out
http://list.ly/list/ghi-xapi-twitterers
#xAPI
#learnxAPI
http://connectionsforum.com/
@aaronesilvers
aaron@makingbetter.us
http://makingbetter.us/