Learning Analytics in Higher Education: A review of UK and international practice

Today Jisc is releasing a new report: Learning Analytics in Higher Education: A review of UK and international practice  (PDF). Drawing on eleven case studies, we examine why institutions are deploying learning analytics, and what the benefits are for learners. We also discuss the main data sources being drawn upon by institutions and the technical architecture required.

The emphasis of the report is on investigating the evidence for learning analytics: what impact is it having, and to what extent can the algorithms actually predict academic success? We also look at how institutions are carrying out interventions to attempt to retain students at risk, and provide better support for all students as they progress through their studies.

The main report summarises the case studies.  The full individual case studies are:

1. Traffic Lights and Interventions: Signals at Purdue University
2. Analysing use of the VLE at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County
3. Identifying at-risk students at New York Institute of Technology
4. Fine-grained analysis of student data at California State University
5. Transferring predictive models to other institutions from Marist College
6. Enhancing retention at Edith Cowan University
7. Early alert at the University of New England
8. Developing an ‘analytics mind-set’ at the Open University
9. Predictive analytics at Nottingham Trent University
10. Analysing social networks at the University of Wollongong
11. Personalised pathway planning at Open Universities Australia

It’s worth also checking out the LACE project’s Evidence Hub for anyone interested in exploring further the evidence for learning analytics.