“What in me is Dark, Illumine”

Developing a semantic URL learning analytics solution for Moodle

Abstract

With the growing prevalence of “Big Data,” a significant challenge facing New Zealand’s tertiary sector is the transition to becoming data-driven organisations. Learning Analytics is an emerging trend that provides a means to leverage “Big Data” in an educational context. However, despite the rhetoric surrounding learning analytics, the reality is that for many organisations existing Learning Analytics solutions present a number of challenges that impede adoption. Existing solutions are expensive, overly complex, or require specialist/external skillsets and infrastructure to implement and maintain. This paper sets out the Eastern Institute of Technology’s development of a macro-level learning analytics solution for its Moodle Learning Management System using free, web-based analytical tools. The Institute’s goal is to share its solution and development experience, thus furthering the conversation around learning analytics, data governance, and the application of data to enrich decision-making.