If you’ve landed here, you’ve probably heard the term xAPI thrown around — maybe in a meeting about data, learning systems, or compliance. Or maybe you’re wondering why your LMS feels like a walled garden and if there’s a smarter way to track learning that happens outside of it. Good news: that’s exactly where xAPI comes in.
What Does xAPI Actually Do?
xAPI stands for Experience API — and at its core, it’s a data standard. But unlike SCORM, which is stuck inside the LMS, xAPI is designed to track learning experiences anywhere.
Reading an article? Watching a safety video on your phone? Attending a workshop? Completing a VR simulation? If you’re learning or doing something relevant, xAPI can capture it. It’s a bit like a digital learning diary — but smarter, structured, and ready to be analysed.
A Simple Example: The “I Did This” Statement
xAPI works by sending what’s called a statement, and every statement follows this basic format:
“Someone” (actor) did “something” (verb) to “something else” (object).
For example:
Jon Smith watched Forklift Safety Video.
Behind the scenes, this becomes a machine-readable xAPI statement and is stored in a Learning Record Store (LRS). That’s your central database of learning activity — and it’s not just limited to courses.
Why Use xAPI Over SCORM?
Because learning doesn’t just happen inside the LMS.
In my work, I’ve seen firsthand how xAPI opens up new doors for tracking real-world skills, capturing compliance evidence, and generating AI-driven insights. It’s the engine under the hood for modern, decentralised learning ecosystems.
- Tracks learning everywhere: LMS, apps, videos, workplace tasks, VR — even offline.
- Standardised, but flexible: Not locked to one vendor or platform.
- Analytical power: Build dashboards, track progression, feed into AI models.
- Interoperability: Make your learning data useful across tools and systems.
Real-World Use Cases
We use xAPI with tools like Remote Reviewer to capture practical assessments, field observations, and user-generated content — all stored as structured learning records. It’s helping training providers, schools, and even compliance-heavy industries prove learning without needing to force everything through an LMS.
Getting Started with xAPI
If you’re just starting your xAPI journey, here’s my advice:
- Start small. Pick one real-world experience to track outside your LMS.
- Use verbs with purpose. Standard ones if possible, or define your own clearly.
- Plan for reporting. Meaningful data beats more data.
- Stay human. This isn’t about surveillance — it’s about understanding learning.
If you’re exploring how to get started or how to make xAPI work in your ecosystem, get in touch for a chat.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an xAPI statement?
An xAPI statement is a simple data structure that records an experience — using the format “actor + verb + object”. For example, “Jane completed Safety Induction Module”.
Do I need an LMS to use xAPI?
No. One of xAPI’s strengths is that it works outside the LMS. You just need a way to send statements and a Learning Record Store (LRS) to receive them.
Is xAPI compliant with Australian training standards?
xAPI isn’t a regulated standard like AQF or ASQA frameworks, but it can be used to collect evidence of competency, participation, and assessment across learning experiences — aligning with compliance needs in VET and corporate training. xAPI is an IEEE Standard (IEEE 9274.1.1-2023) though and used through different industries including Defence.
Generated with some assistance from ChatGPT