Introduction
Learning analytics (LA) investigates and processes digital footprints that students leave behind while accessing digital platforms including learning management systems (LMSs), intelligent tutoring systems (ITSs), massive open online courses (MOOCs), and educational video games.
The outcome of such study helps to trace the learning experience and then suggest personalized alternatives for improvements and ultimately optimize the learning process.
LA also helps to increase awareness of both students and instructors and allow them to make constructive decisions and conduct their tasks effectivelyy, and to personalize educational opportunities to fit individual learner's needs.
Benefits and advantages
LA provides many opportunities for academic institutions to implement efficiently adaptive learning and active learning. It also helps to analyze data from at least four different views: 1) Descriptive; 2) Diagnostic; 3) Predictive; and 4) Prescriptive.
The outcome of an effective big data analysis would enable researchers to identify valuable information to support educational institutions, learners, instructors to improve personalized learning and student engagement.
Hence, the benefits of LA are manifold including identifying target courses, curriculum development, student learning performance and behavior, and improved instructor performance.
Existing LA Platforms/Tools
Many academic institutions are using LA to analyze students' learning data.
- Social Networks Adapting Pedagogical Practice (SNAPP) (University of Wollongong): Analyzes student interactions in online discussion forums
- REVIEW (University of Technology in Sydney): A criteria-based assessment tool to monitor student learning.
- Connect for Success (C4S) (University of Windsor): An incoming first-year students mentoring program.
Constraints and Challenges
There are a few challenges that need to be addressed before applying LA and harvesting its gains.
- Ethics and privacy.
- Over dependence on digital footprints.
- How much resources should be invested on students who are identified as high-risk, and
- Whether or not the student would seriously commit and follow recommendations to improve her/his academic performance.