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📜 Standards & Specifications

A curated list of key interoperability and metadata standards that support or extend the Experience API (xAPI) ecosystem. These specifications are maintained by organizations such as IEEE LTSC, ADL, and 1EdTech (formerly IMS Global).

1. IEEE P9274.1.1 – Standard for Experience API (xAPI) V2.0

  • Official Name: IEEE P9274.1.1 – Standard for Information Technology – Learning Technology – Experience API (xAPI)
  • Scope: Defines the core specification of xAPI, including statement structure, communication rules, and LRS responsibilities.
  • Maintainer: IEEE LTSC xAPI Working Group
  • Link: IEEE Project Page & GitLab Specification Repo

2. IEEE P9274.2.1 – Standard for xAPI Profiles

  • Official Name: IEEE P9274.2.1 – Standard for JavaScript Object Notation for Linked Data (JSON-LD) for Application Profiles of Learner Experience Data
  • Scope: Provides rules and structure for creating xAPI Profiles, which define how specific learning statements should be written for semantic interoperability.
  • Link: IEEE Project Page & GitLab Specification Repo

3. IEEE 1484.20.3 – Standard for Sharable Competency Definitions (SCD)

  • Official Name: IEEE 1484.20.3 – Standard for Learning Technology – Sharable Competency Definitions
  • Scope: Provides a standardized format for defining competencies that can be referenced in learning records (including xAPI statements).
  • Link: IEEE Project Page

4. cmi5 – A Quasi-Standard for LMS Launch with xAPI

  • Official Name: cmi5 Specification (ADL Initiative)
  • Scope: Defines how traditional LMS systems can launch xAPI-based content using the "Assignable Units" model with tracking and credentialing.
  • Maintainer: ADL & AICC Working Group
  • Link: cmi5 Specification

5. IEEE P2881 – Standard for Learning Metadata

  • Official Name: IEEE P2881 – Standard for Learning Metadata
  • Scope: A modernized metadata model intended to replace or extend IEEE 1484.12.1 (LOM), including alignment with xAPI objects and modern delivery systems.
  • Link: IEEE Project Page

6. IEEE 1484.12.1 – Standard for Learning Object Metadata (LOM)

  • Official Name: IEEE 1484.12.1 – Standard for Learning Object Metadata
  • Scope: Original standard for describing educational content metadata; referenced in early SCORM/xAPI hybrid implementations.
  • Link: IEEE Standard Page
  • Official Name: IEEE P9274.1.3 – Recommended Practice for Security and Privacy of Experience API (xAPI) Data
  • Scope: Provides guidance on securing xAPI statements and protecting personal data, including encryption and access control.
  • Link: IEEE Project Page

8. IMS Caliper Analytics Specification

  • Official Name: Caliper Analytics Specification v1.2
  • Scope: An alternative to xAPI developed by 1EdTech; based on JSON-LD for capturing learning events in a standardized model.
  • Link: Caliper Spec

9. IMS OneRoster Specification

  • Official Name: OneRoster v1.2 Specification
  • Scope: A REST/CSV-based data format for securely exchanging student, course, and enrollment information—often paired with xAPI for full learner tracking.
  • Link: OneRoster Spec

10. Learning Tools Interoperability (LTI) Core Specification

  • Official Name: Learning Tools Interoperability (LTI) Core Specification v1.3.1
  • Scope: A standard for securely exchanging learning content and learner data between systems, often used in conjunction with xAPI for LMS integration.
  • Link: LTI Core Specification

11. W3C JSON-LD 1.1

  • Official Name: JSON-LD 1.1 – A JSON-based Serialization for Linked Data
  • Scope: Underpins xAPI Profiles and Caliper; allows embedding semantic meaning into JSON statements using IRIs and context maps.
  • Link: W3C JSON-LD 1.1

12. Wildcard IEEE LTSC Active Projects