In this activity we are studying the paper by Dyckhoff et al. (2013) “The authors include tables that focus on why learning analytics are used. Reflect on the questions asked by teachers (Table 1) and the goals of learning analytics (Table 4). Note in your learning journal or blog which of these questions can be considered: a.data driven b.pedagogy driven.” (A) Qualitative evaluation How do students like/rate/value specific learning offerings? (DATA DRIVEN – IF survey data is gathered) How difficult/easy…

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To recap, my definition of Learning analytics is “The timeous capture and analysis of institutional data sets, to inform immediate and long term decision making.” Having reviewed the Ferguson et al. (2019) paper, I have identified the following innovations which I believe could be supported by learning analytics. I do believe my original definition is still valid in the context of the following examples. Innovation 1 – Action Learning Action Learning could perhaps be supported by analytics. This learning technique…

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“Decide which groups of people could benefit from some of the different types of data reported by Google Analytics, and make a note in the appropriate column(s). Write a reflective piece in your learning journal or blog about how these data could be used to generate learning analytics, together with any problems that might be associated with their use in education. Make reference to any occasions on which you have been presented with or had access to any of these…

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“For each person, make a note of areas of the websites listed below that you would recommend to them, and any resources or events that would help their understanding.“ I would first of all direct all of the staff outlined to the excellent online seminar I attended in April 2020 hosted by Poquet et al. (2020). This seminar provides some useful background information on analytics in social networks, VLEs and relates these areas to learning design. It is also mentioned…

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Make a list in your learning journal or blog of the main points you would share with someone in your context, or in a context that you know well, who had asked for a brief introduction to learning analytics. Further to studying the paper by Ferguson (2020) I would initially share the basic definition of Educational Data Mining (EDM). This would involve a brief explanation of the use of data sets too large to be handled manually. I would introduce…

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“consider each of your areas of concern in turn and note whether learning analytics could potentially address this issue and, if so, how this might be done” In this activity we are asked to analyse the PISA, OECD (2012) report comparing key metrics of two countries (including your own) I have chosen to compare the UK and Italy in the 2012 PISA results. In the reported year students in the UK felt positive about school compared to Italy where one…

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Consider the reasons for the use of learning analytics that are given in these papers, and reflect on them in relation to the recommendations you and others made in Activity 3 and the problems that you thought learning analytics might be able to address. Norris et al. (2009) describes new ways of combining data using Web 2.0. Although this terminology is now outdated, the concept of pulling many data sources together through the web has come to pass. Campbell et.al…

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Identify some of the educational challenges in the environment that you are considering. They may include those identified earlier. Formulate two or three recommendations that set out how data gathered in this environment could be used better to support learners or educators. Educational Challenges Recording engagement. One of the main challenges facing our staff in the current circumstances is to record student engagement. As noted in Kirkpatrick (2020), our metrics to fulfil student funding requirements were changed from attendance to…

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Reflect on your current teaching environment or on a teaching environment that you know well. How are student data used in this case? Record the data use under four headings: Used to benefit learner(s) These are a few examples from my own context: Students have access to their own profiles so they can check if we hold the correct information about them and report any errors. Student’s mobile phone numbers are used to contact them with important announcements such as…

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“big data” and Youtube. I am broadly positive about the use of my data by Youtube. I would much rather be shown suggestions for videos I may be interested in. I often find new channels to subscribe to through the use of the home screen when logged into Youtube. This is where Youtube get the chance to show me what they think I will be interested in. I do create some Youtube content myself, however I find that I do…

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