Using Learning Analytics to inform Pedagogy
Learning Analytics data from Brightspace can provide insight into your course. LA can inform course design, student engagement, and assessment quality. But that’s not all. There are many ways that this data can be used by Instructors and Instructional Designers to create better student outcomes.
The following list offers a few examples of how Learning Analytics might be used:
- Course Design and Re-design: Learning Analytics can be used to observe student engagement paths within the LMS, find out how much time students spend viewing material, and observe how they behave within Quizzes and Assessments. All of this data can be very valuable when considering how to Re-Design courses for increased student engagement and improved learning outcomes.
- Evidence-based Student Intervention: Data collected by Learning Analytics tools can be very useful in finding students who are at risk of poor outcomes, and who might require individual intervention. For instance, Learning Analytics can be used to find out which students were late submitting assignments or who have a trend of decreasing Quiz or Assignment grades. This type of data provides continuous feedback to the instructor about which students require interventions and how the interventions have affected their learning outcomes.
- Guidance to Improve Learning Materials and Tools: Learning Analytics can track how students use course materials and tools, and this data can be used to identify areas where Learning Materials are insufficient for student needs. Data can also be used to view common points of friction or failure in the way Educational tools are implemented in a course.
- Observe Social Learning: Learning Analytics can be used to observe student social behavior in shared online spaces such as Brightspace Discussion Groups. These student interactions can be a valuable indicator of the level of student engagement with the course, and the degree to which Social Learning is influencing student outcomes.
For examples and user stories of how instructors have implemented Core Analytics for these pedagogical purposes, please visit our support page on Using Learning Analytics to Improve Student’s Experience in Education. For more information on how to better design courses for Learning Analytics, see the support page on Designing Courses for Learning Analytics.
If you’d like to discuss how learning analytics can enhance your pedagogy and strengthen course design, connect with TLS! TLS staff would be happy to provide consultation and/or to guide you toward additional support materials and training.
Related Resources
- Belonging Analytics, University of Technology Sydney
- Tips for Brightspace Page Templates, NYU