The History of xAPI (Experience API)
The Experience API, commonly known as xAPI or Tin Can API, was developed as a successor to SCORM, aiming to overcome many of the limitations found in previous standards. Released in 2013 by the Advanced Distributed Learning (ADL) initiative, xAPI revolutionized how learning experiences are tracked, offering more flexibility and capabilities than SCORM.
Key Insights on xAPI (Experience API):
- Successor to SCORM: xAPI was designed to overcome the limitations of SCORM and offer more advanced tracking capabilities.
- Released in 2013: Developed by the Advanced Distributed Learning (ADL) initiative as a more flexible and modern standard.
- Tracks learning experiences anywhere: xAPI can capture learning activities across different platforms, including mobile apps, simulations, offline experiences, and real-world tasks, not just within an LMS.
- Uses “statements”: Learning interactions are captured through statements like “John completed a course” or “Sarah viewed a video.”
- Learning Record Store (LRS): All tracked data is stored in an LRS, which can work independently or alongside an LMS, allowing better management of learner records.
- Supports adaptive learning: xAPI can track a learner’s entire journey, enabling more personalized and adaptive learning experiences.
- Offline tracking: Learner activities can be tracked without an internet connection and synced when back online.
- Broader data collection: Beyond completion and scores, xAPI can capture data on engagement, behavior, skills acquisition, and performance across various learning contexts.
- Interoperability: xAPI is platform-agnostic, allowing for seamless communication between different tools and systems.
- Popular for experiential and continuous learning: Especially useful in scenarios where learning occurs outside traditional eLearning courses, such as job-based training or informal learning environments.
Unlike SCORM, which is primarily limited to tracking learning within a Learning Management System (LMS), xAPI allows the tracking of learning activities across a wide range of platforms and environments, including mobile apps, social media, simulations, offline experiences, and even real-world activities. This is made possible through the use of “statements” that capture learner interactions, such as “John completed a module” or “Sarah attended a workshop.”
xAPI’s ability to capture and store data in a Learning Record Store (LRS) made it ideal for modern, multi-device learning ecosystems. It also enables more personalized and adaptive learning by tracking a learner’s experiences and performance over time, regardless of where those experiences take place.
xAPI has gained popularity for its versatility and capability to track a broader spectrum of learning activities, making it a key player in the evolving eLearning landscape, especially in environments where continuous, experiential learning is a priority.
