Learning Record Stores

The Caliper and XApi frameworks
what are they and why they are
important
Hendrik Drachsler, Sander Latour, Alan Berg
Tracking of data in the LMS
Dyckhoff, A. L., Zielke, D., Buelltmann, M., Chatti, M. A., & Schroeder, U.
(2012). Design and Implementation of a Learning Analytics Toolkit for
Teachers. Educational Technology & Society, 15 (3), 58–76.
Tracking of Social Metadata in
community environments
Do we track the Learning Process with these
data?
-
Real learning takes places everywhere but for sure not ONLY in the LMS
Quantified Self of Learning (Games, Books, Talks, TV, Wearable's, mobiles)
Learning Analytics Summer Institute NL,
#LASI_NL, 30.06-01.07.2014
Very little learning takes place in the LMS,
we need to be able to track ANY learning activity
EVERYWHERE.
Learning Analytics Summer Institute NL,
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Xapi aka. Tin Can API
Learning Analytics Summer Institute NL,
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How Tin Can API works
Tin Can enabled activities send simple statements to a Learning Record
Store.
LRS
Elearning
Game
Simulator
Blog
CC: http://www.slideshare.net/phish108/tincan-in-the-wild
Learning Analytics Summer Institute NL,
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YouTube
Xapi Statements
John added a photo to Open U Community Environment
Jim commented on John’s photo on Community Environment
John watched How to save energy video on ARLearn at 22.05.2014 3pm
John subscribed to Sustainable Energy on Open U at 24.05.2014 1pm
John posted My first blog post in Open U Community Environment
Learning Analytics Summer Institute NL,
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Xapi aka. Tin Can API
Learning Analytics Summer Institute NL,
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Learning Locker
(OS Learning Record Store)
Learning Analytics Summer Institute NL,
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LMS
MLN /
MOOC
Sensors
Mobile Sensors
Learning
Record
Store
LX Sensors
Dash
boards
SANDER LATOUR - PERCEPTUM
Alan Berg
NOTE: MORE SLIDES THAN TIME.
What’s Tin Can API then?
Tin Can API is the code name that Experience
API was developed under. Still commonly used
but the proper name is Experience API or xAPI
(according to the spec and ADL - 2014).
http://www.adlnet.gov/tla/experience-api/
(Rustici disagrees though) http://tincanapi.com/2012/12/11/we-call-it-tin-can/
Experience API
a.k.a. TinCan API or Nextgen SCORM
What is a Learning Record Store?
Learning
Record Store
Rest Services for adding or
querying Learning
Record Store
System X,
Mobile, etc.
LMS
Webpages
LTI
tools
Experience API (xAPI) protocol
http://tincanapi.com/statements-101/
JSON: actor verb object context extensions etc.
{
}
"actor": {
"name": "Sally Glider",
"mbox": "mailto:[email protected]"
},
"verb": {
"id": "http://adlnet.gov/expapi/verbs/experienced",
"display": {"en-US": "experienced"}
},
"object": {
"id": "http://example.com/activities/solo-hang-gliding",
"definition": {
"name": { "en-US": "Solo Hang Gliding" }
}
}
xAPI Benefits
● Decouples activity streams from specific software
(centralizes data)
● Standards approach
● Scalable - But {the LRS market needs to mature}
● Structured data - But {depends on what you send}
● Can work well with LTI dashboards
● Supports community
● Clean data for research
● Growing market enthusiasm
ACTIVITY SOURCES
•UvA have already invested in Sakai CLE and Apereo OAE
TinCAN API support, uPortal being built:
https://confluence.sakaiproject.org/display/TINCAN/Home
•MOOC like Example: Adding Youtube activity to a Learning
Record Store
•http://tincanapi.com/2013/08/28/youtubetin-can-tech-tips/
• Embed a Youtube player in a webpage
• Add some enriching Javascript
– http://rusticisoftware.github.io/TinCanJS/
• Record to an LRS
•Adopters: http://tincanapi.com/adopters/
xAPI Risks
● Security (is the data secure?)
● Privacy and ethics issues vary widely from
country to institution
● Still early on in its maturity model
● Requires an initial investment
● Data in the cloud (is your data safe?)
● The reference implementation (ADL_LRS) is
not production ready.
ADL LRS
Open Source Python installed reference
There is a simple LRS (created by ADL)
available in github but it is not scaleable and
also not very easy to use
https://github.com/adlnet/ADL_LRS
● Reference implementation
● Free open source (Apache license)
● Python based
● Minimal functionality
● OK for testing compatibility with xAPI spec
Experimenting
• https://confluence.sakaiproject.org/display/TI
NCAN/Home
• Sakai as LRS
• ADLNET as reference implementation
Learning Analytics Summer Institute NL,
#LASI_NL, 30.06-01.07.2014
Pagina 25
LTI  Chaining dashboard parts
Learning Analytics Summer Institute NL,
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Pagina 26
What does a POTENTIAL CAMPUS WIDE deployment look like?
UvAInform
Dashboard
A
UvAInform
Dashboard
z
COACH
FACTS
Service
A
Learning
Record Store
Activity
Service
X
Video
STAGE 1
Warehouse
Prediction
framework + Fact
generations
LMS next
gen
OAAI
Blackboard
Analytics
Course Signals
Caliper
BasicLTI
tools
Research
Services
SIS
https://confluence.sakaiproject.org/pages/viewpage.action?pageId=75671025
→
OAAI
LRS options (partial list)
Rustici ScormCloud
Commercial cloud or installed
WaxLRS
Commercial cloud
Learning Locker
Open Source PHP installed
UvA LRS
Open Source Java installed
Something to take away
• Without an LRS we are stuck with data silo’s, dirty data
no clear strategy to work together
•
•
•
•
•
Standards decouples components in the infrastructure
Standards supports validation across services
Standards and guidelines are mutually supportive
Researcher friendly
Lets look towards a uniform set of guidelines for products
services
• Lets work with an International community
• Let’s look towards data democracy between facilities
xAPI + Open Badges
http://learninglocker.net/2014/03/03/tin-badges-or-open-cans-a-technology-tango/
Plug for the next presentation
Look to collaborate with other Universities.
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We are not Unique, being pulled into the drift of the LA trend
Apereo has a proven track record
Share risks and requirements
Avoid duplication
Build industrial software
Share costs
More eyeballs more security
Consistent guidelines for Ethics and Security practices
Scale up validation (it ain’t all about visualizations)
More (NO DOUBT)
Questions?
REFERENCE MATERIAL
Learning Analytics Summer Institute NL,
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Pagina 35
Experience API a.k.a Tin Can API, xAPI
http://tincanapi.com
What is the Experience API (xAPI)
● Standard communication
protocolhttps://github.com/adlnet/xAPI-Spec
● Define statements about learning activity:
Actor Verb Object - “I did this”
● REST service for writing and querying
● Developed by ADL (with
Rustici)http://www.adlnet.gov/tla/experienceapi/
● Version 1.0 (Apr 2013), 1.0.1 (Oct 2013)
● Good introduction at:
http://tincanapi.com/overview/
RDF Triple
actor + verb + object
RDF triple statement
Jack attended Apereo14
Learning Record Stores
A non-comprehensive list