From Completions to Insights: How Instructional Designers Can Learn Learning Analytics (xAPI & Dashboards)
For many Instructional Designers, learning analytics sounds intimidating—like it belongs to data scientists, not course creators. But here’s the truth: you don’t need to be a coder to get started. With xAPI and a basic dashboard tool, you can move from reporting completions to showing real, data‑driven insights about your learning programs. This blog walks you step‑by‑step through learning analytics, the tools you’ll need, and a starter project you can add to your portfolio.
What Is Learning Analytics (xAPI & Dashboards)?
Learning analytics is the practice of collecting and interpreting data about how people engage with learning. xAPI (Experience API) is the modern standard for tracking beyond the LMS—it records statements in the form of Actor – Verb – Object (e.g., “Leah completed Module 1”). A Learning Record Store (LRS) holds these statements, and dashboards turn them into actionable insights.
Why It Matters for IDs
Employers want to see more than completion rates. They want evidence of impact:
- Did learners improve after training?
- Where are the sticking points?
- Which activities drive the most engagement?
Showing this kind of insight makes you more valuable as an ID—and sets you apart in a crowded job market.
Step‑by‑Step: How to Learn Learning Analytics
Step 1: Understand the Basics
- Learn what xAPI is and how it differs from SCORM.
- Resources: Udemy – xAPI Fundamentals: Track Learning with Greater Detail or free YouTube explainers – What is the Experience API (xAPI)? By Devlin Peck
Step 2: Try Out an LRS (Learning Record Store)
- Sign up for a free or demo account with:
- Veracity Learning (has a free plan)
- Learning Locker (open source)
- Instancy
- Practice sending test statements (e.g., “Learner attempted quiz”).
- Resource: What is a Learning Record Store by Devlin Peck, 12 Best Learning Record Store (LRS) Software in 2025
Step 3: Build Your First xAPI Statement
- Use a tool like xAPI Lab.
- Send a statement such as: “Learner scored 85% on quiz.”
- See it appear in the LRS.
- Resource: How to Write an xAPI Statement from Scratch by Devlin Peck
Step 4: Connect to a Real Activity
- Use Articulate Storyline, Captivate, or H5P to build a short pre/post quiz.
- Configure the quiz to send xAPI statements to your LRS.
- Run it yourself or with a test group.
Step 5: Build a Dashboard
- Export your LRS data and plug it into:
- Google Data Studio / Looker Studio (free)
- Microsoft Power BI (free desktop)
- Tableau (trial)
- Create a simple visualization: average pre vs. post score, % improvement, most‑missed questions.
Step 6: Interpret and Share
- Write a one‑page summary: “Learners improved 22% after the module. Most errors occurred in Topic 3—content may need revision.”
- Pair your dashboard screenshot with the summary.
- Add it to your portfolio.
Tools You’ll Need
- xAPI testing tools: xAPI Lab, Statement Builder.
- LRS: Veracity Learning, Learning Locker, Instancy, Watershed.
- Authoring tools: Storyline, Captivate, or H5P.
- Dashboards: Google Data Studio, Power BI, Tableau.
Starter Project: Pre/Post Assessment with Dashboard
- Create a 5‑question pre/post quiz in Storyline or H5P.
- Configure xAPI statements to send to a free LRS.
- Export the data and build a dashboard showing pre vs. post scores.
- Write a 1‑page insights summary.
- Publish the quiz + dashboard screenshots in your portfolio.
Portfolio Angle
Hiring managers want to see proof you can connect learning to results. A small project like this demonstrates:
- You can track more than completions.
- You understand how to interpret learning data.
- You can translate analytics into actionable insights.
Final Takeaway
Learning analytics may feel technical, but it’s completely learnable with today’s tools. Start small with a pre/post quiz, capture the data, and build a one‑page dashboard. The skills you gain will position you as a data‑savvy Instructional Designer who can speak the language of both learners and business stakeholders.
