Creating Learning Analytics

The usefulness and purpose of learning statistics and analytics (aka Learning Analytics) with H5P

In modern society, learning is evolving very rapidly. Knowledge sharing and knowledge transfer are becoming increasingly necessary "on the job" and "du moment". As a result, learning is also becoming more social, less formal and very mobile. Learn more from each other than from the "sage on the stage". Learning experiences are no longer limited to a classroom, but often even take place entirely online. We can see this from the rapid rise of video based learning, for example based on 360 degree video. More and more, learning experiences are visual, interactive and immersive to approach reality closely than with text, images and questions, increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of the learning result. So that eventually the difference between reality and learning will fade also supported by artificial intelligence. Learning by doing on the job, supported by real or artificial coaches and mentors and all the necessary information. Learning and working environment will eventually be fully integrated into a hybrid environment of artificial and human intelligence. This is also called blended or modern learning.

The why of xAPI in H5P

This increasing diversity and complexity of learning experiences creates major challenges for the suppliers and users of learning solutions. How can students be kept informed of their blended learning process, and how is knowledge transfer recorded within blended learning? How do we track achieved learning goals, and how is all the essential data on learning outcomes recorded, analyzed and reported in any necessary form? Learning technology has evolved very rapidly over the past 20 years, which is why standards and standards for learning technology have been continuously updated, especially in the field of data tracking and storage. Several white papers were already written in 2007 at the invitation of LETSI (Learning-Education-Training Systems Interoperability) to reflect on the future of learning technology and what is needed for the foreseeable future. This input based on both learning technology suppliers and users has led to the idea of putting the learning experiences at the heart of the learning experiences for real people and to reduce them as little as possible in terms of tracking them. Whether it's reading a book, watching a video to a simulator of a Joint Strike Fighter. A new standard or API (Application Programming Interface, i.e. a method of linking different systems) was devised based on all this input. That is why this standard is called Experience API or xAPI, nicknamed Tin Can. You can use a string and two cans to listen to each other. This interface is about linking all possible learning experiences in a standardized way and storing and using the data without too many restrictions and open to the future. This xAPI was published in 2014 and is actually only now really being put into use in 2019.

What can be done with xAPI in learning with H5P?

xAPI is designed for every conceivable learning experiences, including traditional classroom learning and the most advanced online or offline learning, where the results are can be compared. The central idea behind xAPI is that all possible learning activities such as video, mobile, social, offline, traditionally can be captured to be able to report on it at an individual level, or to collect the data aggregate at any level to better understand how learning works in the the entire organization and to be able to combine these results with other system and correlate with, for example, business results.

The origin of xAPI in H5P

In 2016 I did my first xAPI project for a customer in the US to create a previously created SCORM architecture (SCORM) replaces the previous standard which has a number of serious disadvantages especially in terms of collecting accurate data for analysis. This project was based on a combination of xAPI and H5P for the creation and delivering e-learning content, mainly video-based. The most important thing the advantage is that a lot of accurate data is now collected for immediate aggregation and for further analysis and business use such as for example, for individual support of students, predictive analysis and adaptive learning. It is much easier to share data between different systems and different content providers to provide insights that were previously not possible or took a lot of time. For example, combining learning outcomes with customer relationship management data or HR systems. For this project, xAPI was integrated for the first time in the H5P authoring and content management system. For example, when watching interactive video, creating questions and watching Presentations. After that, it quickly became apparent that there was a lot of demand for xAPI in H5P and xAPI in H5P evolved rapidly. For example, in education, the used as a kind of recording recorder allowing learning experiences to be played and analyzed for mentoring and coaching. just like H5P, xAPI is a relatively new standard, also open source and therefore it fits well together. There is a good reason why H5P was developed as an alternative to Flash and xAPI as an alternative to SCORM. H5P has therefore never supported SCORM. But LTI and xAPI. This allows systems to be linked by means of APIs monolytic LMS is no longer needed. Of course, H5P can be with an LMS that supports LTI and also with an LRS (Learning Record Store) so that the learning results from the LMS (such as Moodle, ILIAS, Canvas, Brightspace) based on H5P learning experiences flow back to an LMS and can be viewed there using dashboard and there may even be aggregated data is sent back to an LMS without anyone there notice. It's completely transparent. In addition, the H5P.com server variant also has its own reporting system based on the xAPI data, so that it is not always necessary to implement an LRS.

xAPI differs significantly from previous standards such as SCORM and AICC. Unlike SCORM and AICC, xAPI not limited to eLearning material or Learning Management Systems (LMS). There generates Statements stored in a Learning Record Store.

The ultimate goal of xAPI in H5P

The purpose of the xAPI is to save and provide access to all possible learning experiences, both digital and real World. Both mobile and offline. The xAPI makes tracking learning experiences possible with statements, including traditional records such as scores or completion. It also stores records of students' actions, such as reading an article or watching a training video and how they deal with it. This can go as far as saving all keystrokes or mouse clicks if necessary. Basically any action that is important for the the learning process can be saved. xAPI also makes it possible to track activities that people do using computers such as the performing work tasks, producing work results, interacting with others using social media, achieving milestones in games and simulations, and just about any other activity that can be observed or recorded.

How it works in H5P

The xAPI describes learning activities as a flow of semantic data. Each instruction consists of an actor, an action and an object. I (actor) did (action/verb) something (object)

A few Examples:

  1. James Read an article from the Harvard Business Review called "the employer-LED Health Care Revolution"
  2. Mary answered a test question.

People learn from interactions with other people, content and tasks. In principle, these learning activities can be and referencing an event where learning can occur. All these activities and events can be recorded with the xAPI. When a activity must be registered, the application sends secure instructions in the form of "I did this" or "noun, verb, object" to a Learning Record Store (LRS). The LRS registers all statements made and may share these statements with other LRSs or with a compatible LMS, including SCORM and AICC systems. The LRS can also work 'smarter' by adding statistics and the resulting aggregation data can be used for further analysis. for example, advanced Multilevel statistical modelling and correlation analysis or machine learning techniques can be applied to Predictions about Real-World performance related to training data to automate. Nothing special needs to be done in H5P. All activities in all H5P content types are automatically and almost immediately dynamically sent to the LRS as xAPI data. Control some content types more data than others, but this is constantly being Updated. In principle, everything is possible also mouse clicks, pause in videos, keystrokes (this is already used in the Surveys when people have an open question).

The benefits of xAPI in H5P

All learning experiences in an H5P interactive Video Content type are tracked: from starting a video, stopping, answering a question, using embedded content such as a PDF, answering a question, searching for a video clip, completing a closing key to the total display time is tracked using the Experience API and can be used for analysis and reporting. But you don't have to use all that. There may be filtered and aggregated. It also does not require a fixed order of Learning. People can choose their own path that makes for H5P and xAPI not out.

Through all these data from H5P learning activities combined with company, personnel or customer data, it may be possible to started by identifying learning pathways that lead to the most successful results, the effectiveness of training programs can be and the so-called return on investment are measured. This can be measurable KPIs in healthcare, effectiveness education content, sales performance, talent or performance management or the improve learning experiences. In the example below, the progress against the involvement of one of the most important predictors of learning effectiveness and efficient learning.

With xAPI, these types of analyses are easier to make by combining data from different sources. There xAPi is pre-made. So in H5P, with the built-in reporting system, work for learning experiences started from an LMS or portal via LTI, and at the same time the data is transmitted to an LRS, aggregated, forwarded to an LMS and forwarded to an HR system.

In the project I did for a Corporate University in the US collected all xAPI data through H5P learning activities in order to provide progress linked to motivation. Predict. This allows them to give the right interventions to individual students, value for money, but also for planning up and cross selling activities and even for marketing and this has contributed to improved business results through greater transparency and insight. All this due to the combination of H5P with xAPI

Why does H5P fit so well with xAPI and the Modern Learning in general?

  • H5P and xAPI are open and flexible
  • H5P and xAPI are future-oriented
  • H5P and xAPI are becoming more and more Used
  • H5P and xAPI are dynamic rather than Static
  • H5P and xAPI are robust and expandable
  • H5P and xAPI support modern learning on the basis of state-of-the-art technologies
  • Learning outcomes and content are complete Interchangeable
  • H5P and xAPI make it possible to make learning results completely interchangeable and analyseable

This combination fits very well with the requirements of Modern Learning: flexible, forward-looking, interactive, immersive, international, dynamic, robust, mobile, interchangeable, focused on big data, focused on learning analytics, predictive analytics, personalized learning. This does not happen by itself, of course, but something has to be done for it. But at least it's possible. They are actually large building boxes with LEGO for Learning that basically can do everything necessary for Learning

Contact us to create Learning Analytics with H5P in your own learning environment.

Göran Kattenberg (goran@theblendedgroup.nl)

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