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Envisioning a system-wide learning analytics platform
George SiemensDecember 8, 2011
Shanghai, China
Data is an asset
Data reveals our sentiments, our attitudes,our social connections,our intentions,and what we might do next.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111903885604576486330882679982.
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International Business Machines Corp.,
which has invested more than $14 billion
buying analytics industry companies…since
2005, has teamed up with more than 200
schools…to develop analytics curriculum
and training.
What’s different today?
volume (apparently, there’s lots of data)velocity (processing capacity)variety (internet of things, social media)
Applying big data and analytics in education
Learning analytics is the measurement, collection, analysis and reporting of data about learners and their contexts, for purposes of understanding and optimizing learning and the environments in which it occurs.
Society of Learning Analytics Research
“A university where staff and students understand data and, regardless of its volume and diversity, can use it and reuse it, store and curate it, apply and develop the analytical tools to interpret it.”
Learning Analytics
Business Intelligence
Big Data
EDM
Statistical methods
Intelligent Tutors
Personalization
Adaptive learning
Roots of learning analytics
We can make great progress with analytics as individuals, but the nature of ‘big data’ requires a systemic focus
SNA: in Moodle introduction forum
Limited interaction. Most are isolated
Source: King James Bible Old and New Testaments
What is behind a simple visualization?
Ah, the value of open data…
User-accessible tools
Tools for analytics
- Single functionality tools (SNAPP)- Multi-function tools (ManyEyes, Gephi)- Visualization (Tableau)- Existing research tools (SPSS, Wolfram)
Acquisition: how do we get the data – structured and unstructured?Storage: how do we store large quantities?Cleaning: how do we get the data in a working formatIntegration: How do we “harmonize” varying data sets togetherAnalysis: which tools and methods should be used?Representation/visualization: tools and methods to communicate important ideas
Many tools are currently stand alone and single functionality
(anyone remember learning management systems in the late 1990’s?)
Players
Startups (Grockit, Knewton)Existing vendors (Cisco, Catatel)Systemic learning analytics players (iStrategy)(they get bought up quickly)
Predictive Analytics Reporting
Check my activity
To date, a system-wide open source analytics platform is NOT available.
We want to change that.
Given how important analytics are…maybe we should start with openness
The Vision: Open Learning Analytics Architecture
OLA:An open, extensible platform for researchers, educators, and administrators for broad-scale
analytics in education and learning.
Principles of a systems-wide analytics tool
1. Algorithms should be open, customizable for context2. Students should see what the organization sees3. Analytics engine as a platform: open for all researchers and organizations to build on4. Specific analytics strategies and tools: APIs5. Integrate and connect with existing open tools6. Modularized and extensible
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Privacy & Ethics
Just because we can…should we?
Particularly due to the exponential insight Possible with integration of multiple data sets
Getting involved
Open online course: Learning AnalyticsJanuary 23 - March 17, 2012
http://www.solaresearch.org/
Simon Buckingham Shum
Shane Dawson Erik Duval Dragan Gasevic George Siemens
change.mooc.ca
Twitter: gsiemens
www.learninganalytics.net
http://www.solaresearch.org/
