3 Ways Tin Can API Benefits Employees

To measure the effectiveness of online training, companies must collect data that can measure the ROI of an L&D program. A 2017 study conducted by LinkedIn and Lynda.com indicated that CEOs across the U.S. were unable to gather this data, “indicating the critical need to collect and track even more learning data.”¹

That’s concerning, especially because there’s already a simple solution to the problem. Tin Can API, which was developed in 2013, is available in top-tier learning management systems (LMS) and provides fast, accurate training data.  

Why Companies Love Tin Can API

Tin Can API, or xAPI, was defined by Experience API as “an interoperability specification that allows learning technologies to talk to one another.”² It expertly tracks learning experiences and makes it easy for learning systems to communicate with one another.

xAPI records all types of learning experiences and learner actions, whether inside or outside an LMS. An example of an outside-the-LMS learner action would be an employee reading an online article that an eLearning course instructor suggested.    

Organizations love xAPI for its ability to carefully record employee training progress, improve learning solutions and integrate systems. According to Rustici Software,³ Tin Can API also has the potential to:

• Reduce training costs
• Engage new managers more quickly  
• Drive sales  

Related Reading: 3 Reasons Why Every LMS Needs Tin Can API Functionality.

3 Benefits of xAPI for Employees

Tin Can API isn’t just advantageous for organizations. It is also beneficial to employee learners in the following ways:

1. Promotes superior learning experiences -- xAPI helps company leaders “design innovative, engaging and social learning experiences (by) removing the limitations of older e-learning standards,” according to Experience API⁴. With these limitations removed, administrators are free to make better use of social and mobile technologies. As a result, they can create eLearning that is more relevant to individual learners or groups of learners and gets results faster.

2. Ensures employees are recognized for their learning successes -- There is only so far an LMS that is not compliant with Tin Can API can go when it comes to tracking an employee’s learning success. A learning management system with Tin Can API functionality tracks each and every learning experience an employee has, whether or not that individual is logged into the LMS. This gives administrators a better idea of who is spending a sufficient amount of time on training and ensures those individuals are recognized for their efforts.

3. Enables immediate performance support -- It can be frustrating to not have access to the support you need when you need it during training. Tin Can API solves this issue by allowing you to “alert your learners at key times in a learning activity to make sure that you are delivering the right content at the right time. An xAPI-integrated system will gather the necessary data for learning what times are the best for your learners to take a learning element,” stated 5 Practical Applications of xAPI for Online Learning.⁵

“When choosing an LMS, be sure to seek one that is full-featured and has xAPI functionality. This will ensure that your company’s training is highly effective and your employees will have a great experience with the learning management system of your choice.” -- TOPYX

Does Your LMS Feature Tin Can API Functionality?

Learning management systems with xAPI functionality track learner progress with pinpoint accuracy and help company leaders gather the data they need to measure ROI for online training. xAPI also improves the overall LMS training experience for employees. Investing in an xAPI-compliant LMS is a win-win move as it benefits both employer and employee.

References:

1. LinkedIn. Introducing the 2017 workplace learning report: top trends and challenges among L&D leaders. https://learning.linkedin.com/blog/learning-thought-leadership/introducing-the-2017-workplace-learning-report--top-trends---cha.

2, 4. Experience API. How will xAPI benefit my organization? https://xapi.com/adopt-organization/.

3. Rustici Software. The impacts of Tin Can API: how 8 companies are using the Tin Can API (xAPI). https://www.slideshare.net/RusticiSoftware/the-impacts-of-the-tin-can-api-how-8-companies-are-using-the-tin-can-api-xapi.  

5. Digital Chalk. Beyond the hype: 5 practical applications of xAPI for online learning. https://www.digitalchalk.com/blog/beyond-the-hype-5-practical-applications-of-xapi-for-online-learning.