Track Your Learning Experiences with Tin Can API

Tin-Can API is the next advancement of the clumpy and rigid SCORM that allows eLearning to use the current technologies in an interoperable way. Those functions that were not possible in SCORM are easy to do with Tin-Can API, such as launching the course outside the LMS, controlling the content delivery and user experience, enhanced security, accessing the course even when disconnected, and many more.

Large number of organizations and learners have adopted Tin-Can API in the recent years to ensure the effectiveness of their training endeavors. All the organizations expect greater ROI on their training investments, which is why it is important to track the training and learning experiences for any organization.

Tin-Can API is a powerful platform for measuring and tracking the learning endeavors that offer the following benefits:

1. Tracking learning Scenarios: Tin-Can API is the modern version of SCORM and is great for tracking the learning activities, such as mobile learning, serious games, simulations, informal learning, and etcetera. It has a feature called Learning Record Store, or LRS, which records and tracks the learning efforts even when the learners are not logged into LMS. Tin-Can also allow the tracking of data collected from off-line learning, adaptive learning, blended learning, and team based learning.
2. Recording any activity: The structure of statements used by Tin-Can API allows the tracking and recording of all the activity of a user. It records each and every click of the mouse, every answer to a test question, turning to homework, each book read, writing blog post, and others. There are tons of things that learners do every day and Tin-Can can track and record everything. It can form a complete picture of the learning experiences of a learner.
3. Higher Portability due to free data: Since Tin-Can is able to function even when disconnected from the LMS, the data of the learner is stored within the Learning Record Store, allowing the learners to access the data anytime, and go mobile with eLearning. API allows both writing the data to and reading the data from Learning Record Store. Data can be shared with reporting tools, analytics tools, and with other LRSs as well. The most interesting thing is that it has the capability to store the personal information of the learner and their learning experience in a ‘personal data locker’ apart from tracking it for the employer.
4. Correlating Job Performance with training: Tin-Can API has a special specification known as ‘Activity Streams’, which enables capturing the activities on social networks. Activity streams aggregated across an enterprise, or across an industry, can identify the training paths that lead to successful outcomes. This helps in determining the effectiveness of training endeavors and measuring ROI.

There is no doubt whatsoever that Tin-Can has opened up new possibilities in the eLearning, and has changed the way of learning experiences in a significant way. It has removed the constraints and drawbacks that the user experienced while using SCROM.

LMS Scalability: The Topmost Requirement to Select an LMS

LMS software market is constantly growing due to the increasing acceptance of digital learning among corporate organizations, growing usage of eLearning devices, and the ever evolving technologies such as Gamification, video based learning, among others.

Nowadays, the use of Learning Management Software is not only confined to learning and learner management but organizations are looking for complete corporate learning suits to keep a track of the learner’s usage of training materials, manage the course access of the learner, create customized reports, manage assessments, manage course properties, and for various other tasks. Since a considerable amount of training budget is invested in the LMS software, organizations expect better return on the investments made on talent development and employee trainings. Here, the significance of LMS scalability comes into picture.

Scalability refers to the ability of Learning Management Software, to handle the growing amount of work in a proficient manner. A scalable LMS is the requirement of almost all the companies because LMS accommodates with the growth saving time, effort, and resources of the company that it would require to set up a new LMS.

4 Things that aids to LMS Scalability are:

1. Supporting large amount of data: LMS should be able to accommodate large number of courses for the learners to consume. If new employees join the system, then new content can be uploaded in the LMS as per the needs of the learner, so that new learners can consume the relevant content, and the existing learners can reap the benefits of new learning material. It is also possible to add new learners keeping in mind the learner base of the organizations which grows over a period of time.
   
2. Accessibility by large number of users at the same time: Good Learning Management Software should be able to tolerate large number of users accessing the LMS at the same time, as it is the need of every organization to provide course access to large number of learners; and the learners need to get the flexibility to consume the content at any time they wish to.
   
3. Connectivity from all across the world: Uploading varied content in different formats also benefits in scalability, as the LMS can now be used by a global audience and is not just restricted for the consumption in local offices.
   
4. Interactivity: LMS software should also have features that are utilized by the learners and helps them in their skill development such as social interactions through different collaborative tools, which allows the learners to connect with their peers, allows them to share their progress reports etc.

Most of the organizations that tend to expand and grow across the globe, choose a platform which is capable of adapting to its growing training needs while keeping up the good quality, usability and flexibility.