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The Compelling Opportunity

The Opportunity: 

Open Standards for Self-directed eLearning (xAPI)

After careful analysis of the current self-directed eLearning industry, our Emerging Market Team believes the greatest growth opportunity is in the continued development and promotion of a open standard for self-directed learning products.

Some of these features have already been in place in two standards: SCORM and successor xAPI (a.k.a. TinCan or experience API).   

Watch the following videos to familiarize yourself with current and future standards in the self-directed eLearning sector

About SCORM

(Sharable Content Object Reference Model)

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Developed by the US Department of Defense to develop standards and specifications for eLearning platforms.  It was in development from 1999 until 2004 when it was succeeded by the xAPI standard.

About xAPI

(AKA experience API or Tin Can API)

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The open-source successor to SCORM which allows diverse learning systems (LMS, web based, mobile, offline) to communicate with each other and track extensive learning experiences and record them in an LRS (Learning Record Store).

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Key Features and Benefits of xAPI Standards

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Anywhere and Anytime: A standardized API will ensure that learning can be tracked and recorded over a diverse set of learning products and platforms.

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  • Learners will be able to choose how they would like to learn content whether it is offline, in class, on a mobile app, or through a traditional LMS module.  Learners will also have the flexibility to start a lesson on one device and finish it on another or on a desktop.

  • The xAPI standard allows learning outside of a traditional LMS to be recorded.  For example, an employee can watch an insightful TED talk and have that learning experience recorded.  Or the employee may choose to develop the Javascript skills through a Lynda.com online tutorial and have that learning experience recorded. 

  • Learning information can be recorded in a Learning Record Store which can be linked to an employee wherever they may progress in an organization.

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eLearning products can communicate with each other: By conforming to a common communication standard developers ensure that their product offerings can communicate with multiple eLearning Management Systems and learning record stores 

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  • Corporations will be able to allow greater choice of learning products knowing that these products will be compatible with their LMS.​

  • Employees will be able to venture outside of the corporate LMS to find eLearning products that meet their needs.

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Access to data for making informed decisions: A greater variety of learning data will can be recorded using the xAPI specification.  Previous SCORM compliant LMSes recorded only basic user information and course completion/non-completion.  The xAPI standard can communicate far more information about the learning experience. 

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  • The xAPI standard allows eLearning products to communicate and record and increased amount of data about the learning experience.  Designers will have the flexibility to track far more data including: time to completion, percentage correct, gamification records, simulation experiences, attempts made, quiz results etc.  This can allow businesses to better analyze the effectiveness of in-house eLearning modules vs outsourced modules or whether or not certain eLearning products should be eliminated or refined.

  • Data aggregators can compare learning experiences with employee performance in order to optimize future training modules/ learning experiences to their employees.

  • A record of learning and job performance data can provide information for identifying individuals who fit key roles within a business.

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Access to a Learning Records Store:  A Learning Records Store (LRS) allows employees to link their keep their eLearning achievements in a single repository that can be transferred/ linked to other LMSes if they change departments or companies.  

  • Businesses do not have to input all of an employees previous learning experiences into their proprietary LMS.

  • A detailed LRS can also provide an audit trail of learning experiences 

  • Employees have a record of their achievements and can better recognize their value to a company

(*Source: https://xapi.com/layer-2-record-any-learning-experience-informal-learning/)

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