Defining an agenda for learning analytics

Abstract

Learning analytics is an emergent field of research in educational technology where the use of large, passive datasets collected routinely by online learning systems can offer unprecedented insights into student learning and behaviour. These datasets provide objective feedback from students to teachers, allowing the latter to check the validity of assumptions and the influence of learning design decisions. This offers a new opportunity to inform learning design and enhance broad understanding of learning with technology. However, translating raw analytics data into meaningful information for teachers and learning designers currently requires a high level of technical expertise. This paper outlines learning analytics as an emergent field of research, and an agenda to advance understanding and promote development of appropriate methodologies for research in learning technology.