What is xAPI?

Rustici Software describes xAPI as: The Experience API (or xAPI) is a new specification for learning technology that makes it possible to collect data about a wide range of experiences a person has (online and offline). This API captures data in a consistent format about a person or group’s activities from many technologies. Very different systems are able to securely communicate by capturing and sharing this stream of activities using xAPI’s simple vocabulary. Let’s quickly talk about SCORM. SCORM is a predecessor of xAPI. Many companies that deliver learning uses SCORM as a wrapper to launch learning objects. The reporting capabilities of a SCORM package is limited. xAPI doesn’t come with a wrapper, but therein lies its power. A learning team can leverage the full potential of xAPI through a Learning Record Store (LRS). If you want xAPI in a wrapper you can use cmi5, but you are again limited to what cmi5 offers. Another reason why xAPI is a big deal, is that there is currently a whole industry developing around the xAPI specification. xAPI gives learning teams the ability to design and track competency, evaluate the effectiveness of learning objects, and allows for the organisation of data that can speak directly into business goals across multiple technologies. Rustici Software has extensive documentation on xAPI. Start on this webpage and then explore further from there. https://xapi.com/overview/ Another excellent resource on xAPI is Torrence Learning. https://www.torrancelearning.com/xapi/ The Learning Record Stores also have documentation on xAPI. It is their business after all. If I start naming them I’m going to leave someone out and that is not our intention. Just search for Learning Record Store online.