cmi5: xAPI for LMSs

Bill McDonaldSabashiro Beach, LLC

cmi5 Working Group Leader

LMSs are Needed More Than Ever……but not the LMSs we have today.

Overview

• What is cmi5 ?• Why is cmi5 important ?• What does cmi5 get you ?• What are the “extra rules” that cmi5 defines ?

What is cmi5 ?

• cmi5 is a set of “extra rules” for xAPI• The “extra rules” in cmi5 define “plug-and-play”

interoperability between traditional LMS systems and learning content activities • Logical components• LMS – Learning Management System (includes a LRS

learning record store)• AU – Assignable Unit (learning content/activity launched

by LMS)

Why is cmi5 important ?

• It is a BIG improvement over SCORM and AICC ! (Many new features and can map to existing ones)• Profiles like cmi5 are crucial for plug-and-play

interoperability. xAPI is not interoperable by itself because it is too broad.• cmi5 is the “training wheels” that the industry

needs to adopt and understand xAPI. • The Industry understands the current LMS model• LMS adoption of cmi5 will lead to other xAPI profiles.

Here’s what you get with cmi5

• The benefits of xAPI• Content will plug-and-play with your LMS (no custom

xAPI engagements)• Record ANY data you want (and get it back!) – LMS is

required to provide a user interface to access all cmi5 sessions recorded in the LRS.• Eliminate Pass/Complete confusion• Eliminate embedded vs. separate window launch

issues.• Better support for hosted content/content as a service

So what does that mean ?

• Your content can now do really cool things that you can record in the LMS !• Language training – record voice responses• Detailed custom “telemetry data” of what happened in the

content session• Give assignments where learners must take photos or draw

pictures • Have your content generate a PDF certificate and send it to the

LMS

• No more hassles with windowing !• No more confusion over Passed vs Completed• You can host content in other domains much more easily.

What does this mean for LMSs?

• LMSs need to implement an LRS and manage access to that LRS. • LMSs will need to write to the LRS prior to launching

content• LMSs will need to change the way they launch content (a

URL query string with a content defined window)• LMSs must determine when to void erroneous statements

– cmi5 doesn’t allow content to void statements.• LMSs will need to provide a reporting capability that

queries the LRS to provide access to all statements, extensions, attachments, etc.

In general, the cmi5 rules are …

• Rule #1 – You must conform to xAPI.• Rule #2 – You can do whatever you want in xAPI as long as it

does not conflict the cmi5 specification. • Rule #3 – LMS must use the cmi5 defined launch mechanism

to a launch cmi5 AU’s.• Rule #4 – All sessions must include the required cmi5

statements.• Rule #5 – LMS is required to support a (XML) course structure

to define implied sequence and completion criteria for learning activities in a registration• Rule #6 – The LMS must provide a user interface to access all

data recorded.

cmi5 defines the following

• Launch Requirements • URL launch line

• LRS Authentication• Basic Authentication delivery via “fetch URL”

• LRS/LMS Reporting Requirements• (Additional) Statement API requirements • (Additional) State API requirements • (Additional) Agent Profile API requirements • Course Structure

• (XML) defines implied sequence, moveOn rules, launch window properties, launch parameters.

Vocabulary

Session Verbs• Launched• Initialized• Terminated

Status Verbs• Passed• Completed• Waived• Failed• Abandoned• Satisfied

Summary

• cmi5 is a set of extra rules that make sure learning content and LMS systems can work together.• cmi5 will greatly enhance the interoperable

features for the current LMS model.• cmi5 will serve as an example for other “xAPI

profiles” and accelerate more xAPI adoption.

Join Us !

• The cmi5 working group holds weekly web conferences every Friday at 10:30am Eastern/7:30am Pacific.• https://github.com/AICC/CMI-5_Spec_Current/wiki

• Follow us on Twitter:• @cmi5spec• #cmi5

• Questions ?• cmi5wg@adlnet.gov