All You Need is Love (for Data)

Enhancing Practicum Experiences for Sport and Exercise Science Students through Learning Analytics

Abstract

This study illustrates the potential of data-centric methodologies in enriching the practicum experiences of Sport and Exercise Science (SES) undergraduates. By amalgamating learning analytics and text mining, we extract actionable insights from practicum reflections. Automated report generation and data visualisation techniques enable quick identification of students requiring intervention, while text mining and sentiment analysis decode the prevalent themes in practicum experiences. The resulting insights potentially enable personalised, data-informed support strategies, fostering improved student satisfaction, practicum outcomes, and industry-relevant course design. The fusion of data and pedagogy illustrated in this research underscores the potential for data-driven strategies in enhancing tertiary education.