It can be difficult to gauge the needs of a specific classroom. As time goes on the student-to-teacher ratio rises and it grows easier for education to become less personal. Because of this, teachers have less time to engage and evaluate each student individually. And so, as the times change, schools must change with them. More people are entering school than ever before, and educators must employ every tool at their disposal to keep up. This is where the use of analytics in classrooms becomes a valuable resource for educators.
What Are Analytics?
Analytics are a useful tool used in many different professions. While they are commonly used in professional settings, educators can use analytics to build more comprehensive education. Learning analytics are able to efficiently assess the growth of students. Analytics can also enable instructors to know how what steps to take in online course development. These analytics are also able to assess whether or not a group of students is ready for standardized testing.
The use of analytics can raise the argument of data-driven versus student-driven learning. Some individuals believe that using analytics is impersonal and reduces students to numbers on charts. However, data-driven learning (through analytics) can be used to promote comprehensive student-driven learning. It is much more intuitive to engage an individual student when you can properly assess their needs. Because of this, student-driven learning and data-driven learning go hand-in-hand, and are mutually beneficial.
Useful Analytics to Consider
There are many types of analytics to consider in online learning, and these three stand out among the rest.
Student Advising
Certain analytics systems will allow for student advising. Using this type of analytics, students can know what kinds of classes they should be taking when the time comes. Student advising can create an academic plan for students who are struggling to find a path forward in their education. These functions can also aid students within classes themselves, creating recommendations on where to focus their learning efforts.
Academic Alert Systems
Another useful feature in learning analytics, academic alert systems help to ensure student success. If a student falls below a certain set threshold, instructors will receive an alert that the student is falling behind. These thresholds can apply to missing classes, poor grades on assignments, and overall performance slipping. These alerts can help educators ensure student success, giving insight into which students need help and where.
Adaptive Learning
Adaptive learning is one of the most exciting opportunities presented by learning analytics. These systems can allow education to become tailored to the students, making standard curriculum obsolete. With adaptive learning, a student’s needs can be assessed more easily. This allows for a tailored plan to be implemented so students can work on their weaknesses while building their strengths. Through personalized learning you can also ensure that no student is wasting time on material they fully understand.
Conclusion
All in all, learning analytics create a variety of exciting opportunities for educators and students alike. Through the use of learning analytics and its systems, student success can be ensured in physical classrooms and e-learning solutions. As the technology grows and advances, tailored lessons and comprehensive education become more and more possible.
