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What is Learning Analytics?
“Learning analytics is the measurement, collection, analysis
and reporting of data about learners and their contexts, for
purposes of understanding and optimising learning and the
environments in which it occurs. ” Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Learning_analytics
“Field associated with deciphering trends and patterns from
educational big data, or huge sets of student-related data,
to further the advancement of a personalized, supportive
system of higher education” 2013 Horizon Report http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/HR2013.pdfz
How?
“Learning analytics is the measurement, collection, analysis
and reporting of data about learners and their contexts, for
purposes of understanding and optimising learning and the
environments in which it occurs. ” Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Learning_analytics
“Field associated with deciphering trends and patterns from
educational big data, or huge sets of student-related data,
to further the advancement of a personalized, supportive
system of higher education” 2013 Horizon Report http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/HR2013.pdfz
Why?
“Learning analytics is the measurement, collection, analysis
and reporting of data about learners and their contexts, for
purposes of understanding and optimising learning and the
environments in which it occurs. ” Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Learning_analytics
“Field associated with deciphering trends and patterns from
educational big data, or huge sets of student-related data,
to further the advancement of a personalized, supportive
system of higher education” 2013 Horizon Report http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/HR2013.pdfz
Profile
• Prior skill set
• Prior examination results
• Prior subject choice
• Prior examination levels
• Demographics
Activity
• Library visits
• Number of books / resources used
• Class attendence
• Wifi access
• Online systems access
Results
• Year completion
• Module completion
• Module grades
• Assignment grades
• Question level success
• Surveys
• Competency assessments
• Competency related success
Who are we thinking about?
Consider each of the following questions from the
position of
• A student
• A teacher/lecturer
• A programme /course coordinator
• Student support staff
• Central registry
Who
Who is going to be using the data or the reports
using the data?
What controls are needed to ensure only those
who should access them get access?
When
When do they need to get the data, reports
- Different data sources will have different potential
latency
- Different data sets may require different
timeframes for usefulness
- Different data sets may be useful at different
times of year
Useful vs Used
• Lots of data may be useful but not used
• Having reports available to access is no good if
they are not accessed
• Important to identify what will be used and how
What would a lecturer do with the
information he is given about a student
through learning analytics?
What would a lecturer do with the
information he is given about his
course through learning analytics?
Student
• How well am I doing?
• How well am I doing compared to the class?
• How are my friends doing?
• Which subjects should I invest more time in for
greatest benefit?
• What am I not doing that others are doing?
• Is there anything I should be doing that I am not?
Teacher
• How well are my students doing?
• How well are they doing compared to the class?
• How well are they doing compared to other years?
• Which areas of the curriculum are getting the worst
/ best results?
• Which learning outcomes are not being met?
• Are students using the resources? Which
resources? When ?
• With which resources are students outcomes the
best in assessments?
Support
• How well are students doing?
• How well are they doing compared to the class?
• How well are they doing compared to other
years?
• Which students are in need of help on a specific
subject?
• Which students are in need of help across many
subjects / in general?
Admins
• Which courses are students not engaging in?
• Which courses are teachers not engaging in?
• Which courses are students underperforming in?
• Which courses are generating the highest?
• Which students are at risk in a course?
• Which students are at risk in multiple courses?
Data and reporting concerns
Some issues for discussion:
• Transparency on data acquisition
• Secure data storage, retention periods
• Ownership of data
• Purpose for reporting on different themes
• Access to different data
Legal issues
• Data protection laws
• Security policies
• Access policies
• Terms of use
• Student awareness
• Student Impact
The Open University 8 key principles Principle 1: Learning analytics is an ethical practice that should align with core organisational principles, such as open entry to undergraduate level study.
Principle 2: The OU has a responsibility to all stakeholders to use and extract meaning from student data for the benefit of students where feasible.
Principle 3: Students should not be wholly defined by their visible data or our interpretation of that data.
Principle 4: The purpose and the boundaries regarding the use of learning analytics should be well defined and visible.
Principle 5: The University is transparent regarding data collection, and will provide students with the opportunity to update their own data and consent agreements at regular intervals.
Principle 6: Students should be engaged as active agents in the implementation of learning analytics (e.g. informed consent, personalised learning paths, interventions).
Principle 7: Modelling and interventions based on analysis of data should be sound and free from bias.
Principle 8: Adoption of learning analytics within the OU requires broad acceptance of the values and benefits (organisational culture) and the development of appropriate skills across the organisation.
See: http://www.open.ac.uk/students/charter/essential-documents/ethical-use-student-
data-learning-analytics-policy
Jisc work in the UK
• Code of practice for Learning Analytics – Public
consultation
• http://sclater.com/blog/code-of-practice-for-learning-analytics-
public-consultation/
• Final version of the Code in June
• Interesting breakdown including access, and action responsibilities
Mobile App. What students want
• http://sclater.com/blog/what-do-students-want-from-a-
learning-analytics-app/
• Some points to consider
• What is analytics to the student
• What do they want tracked
• What is the information that they want access to easily
References Finding the Prodigal Student: Academics' Analytics at UCD
http://www.heanet.ie/conferences/2014/talks/id/97
Making Sense of Data from your LMS
http://www.heanet.ie/conferences/2014/talks/id/98
Code of practice for learning analytics – A literature review of the ethical and legal issues http://analytics.jiscinvolve.org/wp/2014/12/04/jisc-releases-report-on-ethical-and-legal-challenges-of-learning-analytics/
Learning Analytics – The current state of play in UK Higher and further education http://analytics.jiscinvolve.org/wp/2014/11/20/jisc-releases-new-report-on-learning-analytics-in-the-uk/
Ethical use of Student Data for Learning Analytics Policy – The Open University
http://www.open.ac.uk/students/charter/essential-documents/ethical-use-student-data-learning-analytics-policy