xAPI: Detecting Learning Progress by checking LRS

1 Initial Problem

The standard procedure for ILIAS is the usage of the xAPI LRS proxy. However, scenarios are also to be expected where a tool can not change the LRS - e.g. because the tool should also be used independently from ILIAS. In this case, an external LRS may be queried from the ILIAS xAPI object via a cron job.

2 Conceptual Summary

This feature requires a daily CronJob to update learning status in ILIAS by querying LRS.
The xAPI object requires the setting "Detect Learning Progress by checking LRS via CronJob" for resources that can not or should not use the xAPI-LRS proxy. Since a temporally immediate transmission of data is possible only in limited and not reliable exceptional cases (closing a dependent window with resource), the button "Fetch Learning Progress from Learning Record Store" is generally offered for users with View rights and users with extended rights (eg course administrators) - if learning progress has been activated . This button is also necessary to enable precondition handling.

Since it would make no sense from a usability point of view for resources that are directly connected to an LRS to make the decision LRS Proxy / CronJob, it should be possible to inform the LRS clients already in the administration that a CronJob is absolutely necessary to query learning-relevant data. If this is the case, the selection option LRS-Proxy / CronJob should be omitted in the object settings and only CronJob should be offered.

Supplement: A common reason that the LRS proxy can not be used is because Resource and LRS are 'hardwired', such as mobile apps or simulations. The 'Detecting Learning Progress by checking LRS' option now offers the opportunity to retrieve learning-relevant data on resources that were not even started via ILIAS. The 'ILIAS-independent resources' option should already be available when creating the object next to Upload or URL. The query of the learning-relevant data is made via the activity ID and the user identifier.

In summary, there are three situations that require the option 'Detecting Learning Progress by checking LRS':

1. Resource can be launched by ILIAS, but the xAPI proxy should not be used (for example: server limitations regarding configuration or performance)
2. Resource can be launched by ILIAS, but the xAPI proxy can not be used because resource and LRS are directly connected.
3. Resource is not launched by ILIAS.

3 User Interface Modifications

3.1 List of Affected Views

There are no new or removed views, but modiifications for

• settings of xAPI-Object
• configuration of LRS-Type in Cmi5/xAPI-Administration
• settings for CronJob
• button to fetch data from LRS for Learning Progress

3.2 User Interface Details

For resources which could be launched by ILIAS there is a new option for detection of learning progress.

This new option is not selectable if in the settings for the LRS-type the option 'CronJob for Learning Progress' is activated.

If CronJob is used to detect learning progress, there is an additional button on the the screen used to launch the resource.

Added option on creeation screen for objects not launched by ILIAS

Reduced settings with option for user identification for objects not launched by ILIAS.

3.3 New User Interface Concepts

No new interface elements are necessary.

4 Technical Information

Using the CronJob is the exception. Therefore performance issues are not expected. No creation of users - CronJob changes learning progress only for existing users.

5 Contact

• Author of the Request: Kohnle, Uwe [ukohnle]
• Maintainer: Kohnle, Uwe [ukohnle]
• Implementation of the feature is done by: Kohnle, Uwe [ukohnle]

6 Funding

If you are interest in funding this feature, please add your name and institution to this list.

• DoD NL

7 Discussion

JourFixe, ILIAS [jourfixe], 26 AUG 2019: We highly appreciate this suggestion and schedule the feature for ILIAS 6 with the following modifications / extensions:

1. A documentation of privacy related aspects should be delivered with the feature and linked from "Administration » Privacy". This docu should provide sufficient information for administrators to check and modify their privacy rules of their installation when using xAPI and ILIAS.
2. An xAPI administration setting should be introduced for acctivate the "fallback" mode "ILIAS object not launched from ILIAS" (default is deactivated).
3. Testing of xAPI calls for this mode (...not launched...) should be tested by unit tests. Nevertheless, test cases in Testrail are needed for testing user related activities.
4. xAPI administration and authoring needs to be supported by online help.

8 Implementation

{The maintainer has to give a description of the final implementation and add screenshots if possible.}

Test Cases

Test cases completed on 2019-12-08 by Kohnle, Uwe [ukohnle]

• 32099: Start einer Ressource ohne xAPI-Proxy mit Holen des Lernstatus
• 32100: manuelle Prüfung des Lernfortschritts bei einer Ressource ohne xAPI-Proxy

Approval

Approved at 26 Nov 2019 by Bakker, Onno [onnobakker].