SXAPI103 A Deep Dive on Implementing xAPI in Learning Games
12:15 PM - 1:00 PM Wednesday, October 24
Expo Hall: xAPI Central Showcase Stage
Dig-It! Games had a maintenance headache with a dated Cold Fusion data collection system and some data reporting into various applications in the cloud. The data was siloed and lacked any form of normalization to make it interoperable for aggregation and analysis. It was time to change old practices for new, and after a requirements gathering exercise, the team decided to prototype with xAPI. Existing xAPI profiles provided a solid baseline of verbs and activity types, etc., but xAPI contextual data lacked any form of structure. Most industries have a common vocabulary and standards, but xAPI profiles do not address context.
In this session you will learn how, with support from the National Science Foundation, Dig-It! embarked on a research project to create a methodology, tools, and vocabulary for using xAPI in learning games in one industry (K-12) that could be replicated in other industries. Find out how they created a framework for the xAPI specification that combined with existing profiles and libraries for a great launch point to address the problem. You will learn how the framework solved the silos and proprietary nature of learning data from games, and how within 30 days they had a pilot reporting learning data from a JavaScript game to a learning record store. Ultimately, it solved the main problem of creating a solution for collecting data, was basic, and created other challenges.
In this session, you will learn:
- How the team planned and developed the GBLxAPI.org open-source project
- How they developed a global vocabulary catalog with over 450 permanent URIs for use with the extensions and over 2,000 additional URIs for US-only standards
- About their API for Unity to simplify xAPI use in games and simulations
- How their data is now visualized in a third-party BI tool with widgets, dashboards, and export options
- How it’s now easier to share meaningful data with researchers, which ultimately could increase the use of learning games in industries
Audience:
Advanced designers, managers, and senior leaders (directors, VP, CLO, executive, etc.).
Technology discussed in this session:
Free Unity API for integrating xAPI into learning games and simulations developed using the Unity 3D game engine. Free Excel sheet for organizing and planning learning outcomes in learning games. Tools for reporting xAPI data, including use of AI bots.
Stuart Claggett
COO/CTO
Dig-iT! Games
Stuart Claggett is the COO/CTO at Dig-iT! Games, a mission-based game developer and publisher with a goal of having a positive impact on education by harnessing the power of game-based learning. Stuart leads the open-source xAPI initiative GBLxAPI.org, which aims to simplify and standardize how educational games collect meaningful data for developers, educators, and researchers. He is also the co-researcher for developing the supporting context library catalog as a model for improving interoperability of data using xAPI. Stuart received the Hammer Award from the White House Office of the Vice President (VP Gore) for technology innovation.