The Great e-Learning Hype: xAPI

Lewis Carr investigates what happened to the next big thing in online learning.

Once hailed as the great SCORM slayer, poised to revolutionise e-learning, xAPI seems to have fizzled out like a cheap Aldi firework.

As enthusiastic platform developers waxed lyrical about xAPI, aka Tin Can, painting a future where learning experiences could be as seamless as scrolling through a social media feed, the reality has been more akin to opening an actual tin can, but without a can opener. Meanwhile, SCORM, the ever-lasting granddaddy of e-learning standards, watches from afar, as it stubbornly refuses to pass the glowing taper.

It was an exciting time when xAPI burst onto the scene. Promises of being able to track learning experiences in unprecedented detail had educators and technologists alike dreaming of a utopia where every click and interaction was captured as actionable data. “Down with those pesky SCORM limitations!” they cried, we now had learning that could be tracked across various platforms and experiences.

Despite the fanfare, it wasn’t quite the innovation many had hoped for. And not because the technology is bad or doesn’t work, it was simply down to adoption.

Compatibility

Much like trying to plug a standard USB cable into a MacBook, or getting your kids to bed on time, integrating xAPI into existing infrastructures proved more headache than harmony. Many organisations found themselves wedded to SCORM-compliant systems, making the shift not just a technical overhaul but a matrimonial-sized dispute with their current setups.

The Data Dilemma

As Uncle Ben once said, “with great data comes great responsibility”. (Ok, he didn’t quite say that, but that’s what he meant). The granular tracking capabilities of xAPI, while impressive, left many scratching their heads over what to do with all this information. The potential for personalised learning paths was immense, but so was the potential for getting lost in a data deluge, searching for actionable insights. And what the heck were we supposed to do once we had the insights? Make more content? Improve the content? Dish up an old SCORM?

Training the Trainers

Implementing xAPI wasn’t just about flipping a switch. It required a cultural and educational shift, training the trainers to harness its capabilities. Unfortunately, many found it easier to stick with the devil they know (SCORM), rather than venture into the untamed wilderness of xAPI. SCORM was like the comfy tracksuit bottoms you wear in the house. Why change them when they just work? Sure, if you’re nipping out to Aldi to buy some fireworks you might change into your jeans, but if no one is looking, then who cares, right?

It’s not all missed opportunities, though. In some corners of the e-learning world, we’re sure that xAPI did find its groove, powering learning experiences that SCORM could only dream of.

In environments where learning goes beyond clicknext courses, xAPI can shine brightly, capturing complex learner interactions within simulations and games, offering insights that are as rich as the learning experiences themselves. It’s just that we haven’t really seen it in mainstream eLearning. But if our readers have any showcase examples, we’d love to see them and feature them.

As the e-learning world still plods along with SCORM and click-next, the legacy of xAPI is one of untapped potential and lessons learned. While it may not have reached the ubiquity of its SCORM predecessor yet, the technology pushes the boundaries of what’s possible in tracking and enhancing learning experiences.

Perhaps, like many visionaries before it, xAPI was simply ahead of its time, paving the way for future innovations in a world still warming up to the idea of learning analytics. As Marty McFly famously says in Back to the Future, “I guess you guys aren’t ready for that yet. But your kids are gonna love it”.