Using continuous assessment with feedback loops to generate useful data for learning analytics

Abstract

The combination of feedback loops and continuous assessment through learning management systems can enhance student learning and produce data to illustrate it, to both students and educators. This paper presents learning designs, examples and data, representing this combination, in which students receive feedback from different sources and are given the opportunity to apply the feedback to improve their performance, hereby closing a feedback loop. The examples and data, presented in this paper, come from higher education in Denmark where assessment since 2016 has been in a transition phase from single end-of-semester exams to continuous assessment. Data in this transition phase is extremely helpful in documenting the effect of the learning design and in informing the teaching and learning process, for example in demonstrating how students use feedback to increase their scores and in allowing educators to identify students at risk of failing or dropping out. The generic learning design will be used as inspiration for educators to ensure that student learning is supported by both continuous assessment and feedback loops. In addition, the design will be developed further to strengthen the focus on the development of students’ evaluative judgement.