Realizing future visions of learning requires a shared platform that serves the needs of learners. The Training and Learning Architecture (TLA) is intended to be a shared platform for learning technology that spurs innovation and promotes interoperability. The TLA is a collection of community-created Web services and open source software components to securely manage and provide interfaces to learning data, while protecting privacy. Presentation at the XV Simposio Internacional de Tecnologías de la Información y las Comunicaciones en la Educación Conjuntamente con el Congreso Español de Informática (CEDI 2013). Madrid, 18 de Septiembre de 2013.

1. The Training and Learning Architecture:
Infrastructure for the Future of Learning
International Symposium on Information Technology and
Communication in Education (SINTICE) 2013
Damon Regan, Ph.D.
Contractor with The Tolliver Group, Inc. supporting the ADL Initiative

2. The Advanced Distributed Learning (ADL) Initiative
2
Highest quality education and training anytime and anywhere.

3. 3
SCORM*
SCORM Adopters
SCORM enables
an interoperable
e-learning
environment
that has become
the de facto
global learning
standard
*Sharable Content Object Reference Model

4. 4
New Research Projects
Experience
Tracking
Learner
Profile
Content
Brokering
Competency
Networks
Training and Learning Architecture (TLA)
Web service specifications and open source software
Virtual World Framework (VWF) Sandbox
Web-based persistent virtual environment
Personal Assistant for Learning (PAL)
Software to support pervasive learning

5. 5
“So some things get invented because it is
suddenly possible to invent them.”
- Vint Cerf

6. 6

7. 7
Project Tin Can
‣ ADL Funded Research Effort
‣ Code-named “Project Tin Can” Rustici Software
‣ Requirement to “modernize” SCORM
communication framework
‣ Community-derived use cases, interviews, over
100 white papers

8. 8
Project Tin Can Requirements
1. Should support a variety of content types
2. Should be simple to implement
3. Should support offline or disconnected scenarios
4. Portable content (interoperable across platforms)
5. Improved access to run-time data

9. Unlock the power
of data to spur
innovation and
improve quality
9

10. Move from managing “documents”
to managing discrete pieces of
open data and content
10

11. Information-Centric Approach
11
Presentation Layer
Platform Layer
Information Layer
Open Data & Content
(Information)
Systems, Processes,
Management & Web APIs
Public Digital
Services
The Layers of Digital Services
http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/egov/digital-government/digital-government.html
Private Digital
Services

12. 12
$1.5B was spent
on educational
technology in 2012

13. Training and Learning Architecture (TLA):
Web APIs and Open Source Software
13
Experience
Tracking
Learner
Profile
Content
Brokering
Competency
Networks

14. Training and Learning Architecture (TLA):
Web APIs and Open Source Software
14
Experience
Tracking
Learner
Profile
Content
Brokering
Competency
Networks

15. Credit: Liz Burow (@Burlix)
15
Experience API (xAPI)

16. What is the ?
‣ Result of Project Tin Can
‣ Tracks experiences, informal learning, real-world
experiences (not just completions)
‣ Allows data storage AND retrieval (ex. 3rd party reporting
and analytics tools)
‣ Enables tracking mobile, games, ITS, and virtual worlds
experiences
‣ Developed by open source community
16

17. Comparing xAPI and the SCORM RTE
‣ Course tracking:
Bookmarking, completion,
time, pass/fail, scores
‣ Multiple scores per object,
unlimited test results and
interactions
‣ No LMS required
‣ No web browser required
SCORM
Run-Time
Environment
17

18. Comparing xAPI and the SCORM RTE
‣ Supports offline scenarios
‣ Control over your content
‣ Tracks web or native apps
‣ Tracks serious games,
simulations, virtual worlds
‣ Tracks real-world, informal
learning & performance
‣ Tracks team-based learning
18
SCORM
Run-Time
Environment

19. 19
Activity Streams
‣ http://activitystrea.ms
‣ Collaboration between Google, Facebook, Microsoft
and others
‣ Allows reporting of experiences, not just completions
‣ Format: <Actor> <Verb> <Object> (I did this):
Simple Statement:
I (actor) watched (verb) a video on protecting employee data
(object)
Complex:
in the context of [information assurance certification training] with
result [timestamp:2013-0618T18:30:32.360Z ].

20. Reporting
Systems
Assessment
Services
Semantic
Analysis
Statistical
Services
20
Learning Record Store (LRS)

21. Learning Management System (LMS)
User Management
Course Management
Run-Time
Player
Scheduling
Grade Book
Search
Delivery
Learning Records
Statistics
Repository
Sequencing
Preferences AssessmentReports
What is an LRS?
Learning Management System (LMS) or Virtual Learning Environment (VLE)
21

22. Just the Learning Records
Learning Record Store (LRS)
Learning Records
Learning Record Store (LRS)
22
https://github.com/adlnet/ADL_LRS

23. ‣ Version 1.0 Released in April 2013
‣ Over 30 Adopter Products
‣ Over 100 Contributors
xapi.adlnet.gov
23

24. Training and Learning Architecture (TLA):
Web APIs and Open Source Software
24
Experience
Tracking
Learner
Profile
Content
Brokering
Competency
Networks

25. 25
TLA Content Brokering
From Durlach & Spain: Forms of Adaptation in a Framework for Instructional Technology

26. 26
Managing Content
3D Repository
Open source repository for 3D models
Re-Usability Support System for
E-Learning (RUSSEL)
Open source repository for e-
learning content

27. 27
Discovering Content

28. 28
Understanding Content
Metadata, repositories, and registries that support
discovery and access should align content with
objectives, standards, or competency information
LRMI Properties:
• name
• about
• author
• educationalAlignment
• …
Competency Definitions

29. 29
Not just metadata…
‣ Paradata: a particular kind of metadata.
• Specifically, paradata is usage data.
• How is something being used?
‣ Shared with Learning Registry based on activity
streams specification
• actor, verb, object
‣ Example:
• 10th grade English Languages Arts Educator (actor)
matched academic standard Y (verb) with resource X
(object)

30. Training and Learning Architecture (TLA):
Web APIs and Open Source Software
30
Experience
Tracking
Learner
Profile
Content
Brokering
Competency
Networks

31. TLA Competency Networks
Learning
Management
Systems
Registries &
Repositories
Assessment
Systems
E-portfolios
Social
Networks
Objectives, standards, or competency
information needs to be shared across
learning applications
Shared objectives, standards, or competency information
31

32. 32
Competency Structure vs. Actual Competencies
Represent and structure information, but does not set out any
specific learning outcome or competence definitions or
structures.

33. 33
Existing Competency Frameworks
‣ MedBiquitous Competency Framework
• ANSI accredited technical standard for representing
competency frameworks
• Developed for healthcare education
‣ Achievement Standards Network (ASN)
• Open specification used with K-12 standards
‣ Integrating Learning Outcomes and Competences
(inLOC)
• Recently completed European funded project
Each provides methods to model definitions, structures, and relationships

34. Training and Learning Architecture (TLA):
Web APIs and Open Source Software
34
Experience
Tracking
Learner
Profile
Content
Brokering
Competency
Networks

35. 35
TLA Learner Profiles

36. 36
Relationship to Competencies
Proficient In Progress Desired
Learner ProfileCompetencies
Definition

37. 37
Learner Profile Visualization

38. 38
Owning Your Data
‣ Multiple Personas for Multiple Systems
• Work
• School
• Hobbies
• Neighborhood
• Etc.
‣ Rather than storage in multiple places “owned” by different
systems, all centralized and YOU grant permissions.
‣ Data migration easier

39. 39
Data Relationships
badgeClass B1
alignment: 01
criteria: P1
Learner L1 activity
• L1 used R1
• L1 used R2
• L1 achieved O1
resource R1 (LRMI)
teaches O1
resource R2 (LRMI)
assesses O1
objective O1
page P1 (LRMI)
alignment: O1
resources R1, R2
badgeAssertion B1L1
badge: B1
Evidence: L1activity
Learning data revolves around
competency definitions

40. 40
Linked TLA Services and Data
badgeClass B1
alignment: 01
criteria: P1
Learner L1 activity
• L1 used R1
• L1 used R2
• L1 achieved O1
resource R1 (LRMI)
teaches O1
resource R2 (LRMI)
assesses O1
objective O1
page P1 (LRMI)
alignment: O1
resources R1, R2
badgeAssertion B1L1
badge: B1
Evidence: L1activity
Experience
Tracking
Learner
Profile
Competency
Networks
Content
Brokering

41. 41
Personal Assistant for Learning (PAL)
Software to enable
pervasive learning
‣ Better retention by spacing learning in time
‣ Better transfer by varying learning context
‣ Better mastery by personalizing pace, path, context, and
method of instruction
‣ Better completion by adapting to non-cognitive factors
such as confidence and motivation.

42. Learner-PAL UIs
Learner
- Recommendations
- Engagement
Workflows
- Context Awareness
- Personalization
Services
Learning Methods
- Authoring
- Curation
- Competencies /
Topics
- Learning Objects
- Metadata
- Learner Profile
Author
- Podcasts
- Virtual
Environments
- Perceptual
Learning
Modules
- ITS
- Apps
- I/O Devices
- Sensors
Back End
Authoring UIs
Front End
External
Interfaces
External Resources
PAL Architecture
PAL Services
Data Repository Commercial
- Outlook Calendar
- Social Network
- Maps
TLA
- Competency
Networks
- Content Brokering
- Learner Profiles
- Experience
Tracking
Other PAL
Implementations
- Vendor A
- Vendor B
- …

43. Virtual World Framework (VWF) Sandbox
Persistent virtual environment
that runs in a web browser
http://vwf.adlnet.gov
Traditional
Virtual
World
Game
Engine
3D
Modeling
Tool
https://github.com/adlnet/Sandbox
43
Apache License 2.0

44. 44
Example Virtual Game and xAPI
Nutrition Mission Game
Choose the food to complete
your mission
(xAPI publish example)
Connected Garden
Virtual environment connected
to real garden
(xAPI read example)

45. 45
Querying the LRS
function tick()
{
var d = Date.now();
if (d - this.lastTick > 30000)
{
this.pointsQuery.since = this.lastQuery;
this.queryLRS('http://imaginarium2.adlnet.org/xapi', this.pointsQuery,
this.processResults.bind(this));
}
}

46. 46
The LRS Query
{
"agent":
{
"account":
{
"homePage": "http://imaginarium.adlnet.org",
"name": “plant1"
}
},
"verb": "http://imaginarium.adlnet.org/xapi/verbs/grew",
"since": "2013-09-13T04:00:00.370Z"
}

47. 47
Animating the Plant
function processResults(data)
{
var score = 0;
for (var i in data.statements) {
score += data.statements[i].context
.extensions['http://imaginarium.adlnet.org/xapi/nouns/imaginarium']
[‘plant-growth-value'];
}
this.animationFrame =
transformScore(score);
}

48. Resources
48
Conference Paper
http://www.e-ucm.es/sintice2013/sintice2013_01_Regan.pdf
Training & Learning Architecture (TLA)
http://www.adlnet.gov/tla
TLA Experience API (Tin Can API) & Public Groups
http://xapi.adlnet.gov
ADL GitHub Main Link
https://github.com/adlnet
VWF Sandbox
http://vwf.adlnet.gov/adl/sandbox/

49. 49
Thank you!
@damonregan
Damon Regan, Ph.D.
Technical Team Co-Lead
The Tolliver Group, Inc
damon.regan.ctr@adlnet.gov