Learning Analytics Definition Learning analytics is the measurement

Learning Analytics

Definition • Learning analytics is the measurement, collection, analysis and reporting of data about learners and their contexts, for purposes of understanding and optimizing learning and the environments in which it occurs • Why not Educational Data Mining ? : used when aimed at governments, funding agencies, and administrators instead of learners and faculty

For what ? • For individual learners to reflect on their achievements and patterns of behavior in relation to others • as predictors of students requiring extra support and attention • to help teachers and support staff plan supporting interventions with individuals and groups • for functional groups such as course team seeking to improve current courses or develop new curriculum offerings • for institutional administrators taking decisions on matters such as marketing and recruitment or efficiency and effectiveness measures

Motivation • increasing interest in 'big data' • The rise of online education -> increase in digital data regarding student background and learning log data (from VLEs). • optimisation of systems to support learning : how we can know whether a student is engaged/understanding if we can’t see them? • Increasing focus on evidencing progress and professional standards for accountability systems