Investigating Performance ─ Design and Outcomes With xAPI

Through conversations with Learning & Development professionals about the need for better data, it’s become clear that good design is not only about designing for data, but also designing from data. Investigating Performance comprehensively looks at designing to get valuable data needed to understand both course and user performance via data collection and analytics. The authors present tools and techniques to take advantage of the data collected to improve learning approaches throughout the design cycle. Investigating Performance helps the reader establish a non-developer level overview of the xAPI spec to provide a baseline understanding of xAPI and its usage, then moves on to an exploration of data types, strategy, and the basics of data analysis. Learning & Development professionals have the potential to support meaningful, actionable assessment of course design and learner achievement through data collection and analysis. Now it’s time to roll up the sleeves and get to work. This book gives a practical overview of the tools, techniques, and strategies needed to get started.

Sean Putman has a background in instructional design and development. After being introduced to a colleague as “the guy who made all those eLearning courses that no one watched,” he knew it was time for a change. Through years of research and professional development, Sean strives to make the best eLearning possible. He helps organizations build eLearning programs that support employee performance, and works with xAPI to track and use data for performance support. Sean is an industry speaker on topics including data use in learning design, prototyping, and xAPI.