Student retention and learning analytics: A snapshot of Australian practices and a framework for advancement. Final report

Cassandra Colvin; Tim Rodgers; Alexandra Wade; Shane Dawson; Dragan Gasevic; Simon Buckingham Shum; Karen J Nelson; Shirley Alexander; Lori Lockyer; Gregor Kennedy; Linda Corrin; Josie Fisher

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Student retention and learning analytics: A snapshot of Australian practices and a framework for advancement. Final report

Cassandra Colvin, Tim Rodgers, Alexandra Wade, Shane Dawson, Dragan Gasevic, Simon Buckingham Shum, Karen J Nelson, Shirley Alexander, Lori Lockyer, Gregor Kennedy, …

Australian Government Office for Learning and Teaching

2015

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Abstract

learning analytics

student retention

higher education

adaptive complex systems

technology adoption

higher education policy

The analysis of data from user interactions with technologies is literally changing how organisations function, prioritise and compete in an international market. All industries have been influenced or impacted by the so called digital revolution and the associated analysis of user data. In the higher education (HE) sector this wave of data analytics has flowed through the concept of learning analytics (LA). This field of research has been touted as a game changer for education whereby the outcomes of LA implementations will address core education challenges. These include concerns regarding student retention and academic performance, demonstration of learning and teaching quality, and developing models of personalised and adaptive learning. While there is broad consensus across the sector as to the importance for LA there remain challenges in how such endeavours are effectively and efficiently rolled out across an organisation. The lack of institutional exemplars and resources that can guide implementation and build institutional capacity represents a significant barrier for systemic adoption. This report seeks to unpack these challenges to institutional adoption and provide new insights that can aid future implementations of LA and help advance the sophistication of such deployments. The study does so by interrogating the assumptions underpinning the adoption of LA in the Australian University sector and contrasting this with the perspectives of an international panel of LA experts. The findings and recommendations highlight the need for a greater understanding of the field of LA including the diversity of LA research and learning and teaching applications, alongside the promotion of capacity building initiatives and collaborations amongst universities, government bodies and industry.

Details

Title: Student retention and learning analytics: A snapshot of Australian practices and a framework for advancement. Final report
Authors: Cassandra Colvin (Author)
Tim Rodgers (Author)
Alexandra Wade (Author)
Shane Dawson (Author)
Dragan Gasevic (Author)
Simon Buckingham Shum (Author)
Karen J Nelson (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast
Shirley Alexander (Author)
Lori Lockyer (Author)
Gregor Kennedy (Author)
Linda Corrin (Author)
Josie Fisher (Author)
Publisher: Australian Government Office for Learning and Teaching
Date published: 2015
Copyright note: Copyright © 2015 The Author. With the exception of the Commonwealth Coat of Arms, and where otherwise noted, all material presented in this document is provided under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
Organisation Unit: University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; Office of the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Students)
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99449564202621
Output Type: Report
Research Statement: FALSE

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