Education Data, Avocados, and Our New API Directory
What is an API?
API stands for Application Program Interface. It’s a tool which allows web applications (websites and apps to the layman) to communicate with each other and share information stored in each other’s databases. This information can then be incorporated into new and different projects.
We like to think about it in culinary terms. Let’s say each website is a restaurant. One restaurant, Super Salads needs some avocados. Next door, at Mexicana Meals, they make excellent guacamole. If Mexicana Meals doesn’t have an API, the only way the chef at Super Salads can borrow avocado is if he sits down at a table, orders guacamole from the waiter and then separates the avocado from the tomato and onions before he puts it into a salad. If Mexicana Meals does have an API, the chef can walk through the back door into the kitchen and politely ask the other chef if he can borrow an avocado. Salad and guacamole use the same avocado to make two different foods and an API lets them share their supply.
An API (a.k.a Avocado Procurement Interface) is what allows you to sign into Noodle with Facebook and read our Tweets on this blog. If Facebook and Twitter didn’t offer API’s, you’d only be able to log into Facebook at Facebook.com and you’d only be able to see your tweets on Twitter.
Why is it important?
API’s are incredibly valuable for education. Being able to share data about student progress levels, education resources, and classroom ideas means that everyone learns more. Whether it’s a teacher sharing instructional videos with her classroom or a branch of government trying to allocate funds for its education budget.
The White House recently gathered a number of education professionals to brainstorm how to put education data to use to better help students, educators and governments. We were proud to take part in it and we’ll keep you updated as the White House’s initiative gets started. In the meantime, we wanted to help other educators find APIs that might be helpful to them.
Check out our list of open education-related APIs and please respond to this post if you know of any resources we’ve missed. We want the directory to be a collaborative project so don’t hesitate to get in touch! In the meantime, here are 10 of our favorites from the list.
Our 10 Favorite Education API’s
Khan Academy
An online learning and instruction platform (non-profit) used to provide a well rounded education. Created by Salman Khan, this collection of over 1600 videos provides knowledge in many subjects including math, history, and science. This API provides a free resource to the Khan Academy databases and allows the user to share the information given on the site.
Access API here.
Blackboard Collaborate
An online learning platform, which uses interactive software to bring people virtual classrooms, instant messaging with teachers and students, and web conferences around the world. This API allows developers of sites to merge Blackboard Collaborate with any LMS, CMS, VLE or portal.
Access the API here
Data.ed.gov
Data.ed.gov is a website that provides information about the Department of Education grants. this API provides Datasets, and performance statistics from public K-12 schools. The website is part of the Open Government Initiative.
Access the API here
Knewton
Online Learning Platform, Knewton has adapted their learning platform to the individual students needs. Providing customized courses in SAT, GMAT, LSAT. This API allows developers to retrieve Knewton’s own data for other applications and applications, such as grading and teaching procedures which can adapt to the students needs or demands.
Access the API here.
EnGrade
EnGrade connects 3.1 million administrators, teachers, students, and parents. Using online classroom tools such as gradebook, secure messaging, homework calendar, online quizzes, and flashcards. This API allows developers to merge class management tools and accommodate students, with a student reference page.
Access the API here.
Clever
Clever is a data organization tool. Helps developers for software and school administration, this API provides data processing, organizing, integration, and security for student information, it also provides information retrieval functionalities.
Access the API here.
Europeana
Europeana allows the exploration of digital resources of Europe’s museums, libraries, archives and audio-visual collections. This API allows users to develop apps that could display collections of Europeana metadata.
Access the API here.
Schoolology
is a learning management system and social network that makes it easy to create and share academic content. used throughout the K-12 levels and also in higher learning. This API allows developers to track users, and students data and usage and recycle that information for other sites.
Access the API here.
WorldCat
WorldCat is a collection of over 72000 libraries from over 170 countries from around the world. This API allows the application to search the WorldCat catalog this contains thousands of member libraries around the globe this contains bibliographic records, individual records discover books, videos, music, electronic content.
Access the API here.
Library of Congress
The US national library, in Washington, DC. One of the greatest and largest Library collections on earth serves as the U.S official library and research center. The API uses methods of Search/Retrieve via URL which is a standard search protocol for Internet search queries.
Access the API here.
