In an age where instructors and administrators face many challenges when it comes to effectively training and educating, the field of learning analytics has grown to reflect the expanding use of data in other sectors. While there is no universal definition of learning analytics, it is said to involve “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” (Siemens, 2011). In other words, learning analytics follows the digital footprints of learners, transforming the way we can look at learning processes and enabling data-driven decisions in order to maximize student success.
Not surprisingly, learning analytics continues to evolve as technology remains one of the main drivers of educational change. Below we look at three new learning analytics trends and how they’re being leveraged to improve and innovate modern education.
1. Leveraging machine learning approaches to complement education
There is an enormous amount of education data in learning analytics, which can be difficult to keep track of and analyze. For educational leaders to make the most out of that data in order to understand and optimize student learning, learning analytics practitioners are now looking to machine learning algorithms and approaches. Machine Learning is already impacting education in many areas, including implementing personalized learning, predicting test outcomes, determining at-risk students, increasing graduation rates, and more.
Learning analytics already draws heavily from fields such as predictive modeling, statistics, and computer science – all areas relating to machine learning. Therefore, the convergence of these two fields makes sense and is likely the future of intelligent learning analytics.
2. Supporting student success in self-regulated learning
When it comes to self-regulated learning, there are a considerable number of variables that might influence student success. Why did one learner fail to complete their learning activities while another succeeded?
For institutions to provide the best support to individual learners, they need to understand these variables, identify patterns, and address gaps in their instructional design before it is too late. By applying learning analytics, educational decision-makers can now analyze student data from those enrolled in a course – be it online, in-class, or blended – to provide instructors and designers with the information they need to drive strategies for increased student success and retention. Integration with key IT infrastructure like the institution’s Learning Management System is key to providing seamless access to all pertinent educational data.
3-Seeing the entire story with journey analytics
Learning is no longer viewed as a siloed process but rather treated as an integrated and connected experience throughout a learner’s educational career with an institution or organization. That’s why learning analytics is breaking down data silos and weaving together every touchpoint that a student interacts with. By connecting learning data that is usually separated across various systems, leaders can now analyze and use this collective information to enhance the learner experience.
For example, with the Blue Student Journey Analytics (SJA) solutions, supports students throughout their complete academic lifecycle with an “always-on” listening channel, automated feedback gathering processes, and decision support – ensuring that institutions have all the information they need to see the full picture.
Overall, learning analytics help educators and L&D administrators deliver more effective training and education programs that support the modern learner. Use these tools to provide a personalized, efficient, and impactful learning experience.
This guest blog post was written by Explorance, a leading journey analytics solutions provider. Explorance provides comprehensive analyses of training and educational efforts for both students of various educational levels and professional employees.
Visit explorance.com to learn more about journey analytics for your LMS, or for more information.
For further reading about the power of learning analytics, check out the blogs below:
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