A systematic review of the role of learning analytics in enhancing feedback practices in higher education

Learning analytics (LA) offers new opportunities to enrich feedback practices in higher education, but little is understood about the ways different LA can enhance feedback practices for educators and students. This systematic literature review maps the current state of implementation of LA to improve feedback practices in technology-mediated learning environments in higher education. We used strict inclusion criteria to select relevant studies that have investigated the role of LA on feedback practices. To identify common features of LA for feedback studies, we coded relevant publications using an analytical framework that identifies four key dimensions of LA systems: what (types of data), how (analytic methods), why (objectives), and how educators and students are served by LA (stakeholders). Based on findings, we propose a conceptual framework that can guide the implementation of LA for feedback systems and also suggest future empirical research in this area.     

Multimodal learning analytics for game-based learning

A distinctive feature of game-based learning environments is their capacity to create learning experiences that are both effective and engaging. Recent advances in sensor-based technologies such as facial expression analysis and gaze tracking have introduced the opportunity to leverage multimodal data streams for learning analytics. Learning analytics informed by multimodal data captured during students’ interactions with game-based learning environments hold significant promise for developing a deeper understanding of game-based learning, designing game-based learning environments to detect maladaptive behaviors and informing adaptive scaffolding to support individualized learning. This paper introduces a multimodal learning analytics approach that incorporates student gameplay, eye tracking and facial expression data to predict student posttest performance and interest after interacting with a game-based learning environment, Crystal Island . We investigated the degree to which separate and combined modalities (ie, gameplay, facial expressions of emotions and eye gaze) captured from students (n = 65) were predictive of student posttest performance and interest after interacting with Crystal Island . Results indicate that when predicting student posttest performance and interest, models utilizing multimodal data either perform equally well or outperform models utilizing unimodal data. We discuss the synergistic effects of combining modalities for predicting both student interest and posttest performance. The findings suggest that multimodal learning analytics can accurately predict students’ posttest performance and interest during game-based learning and hold significant potential for guiding real-time adaptive scaffolding.     

MOOC 教育大数据辨析初探：方法与启示

近年,MOOC 教育在国内外发展得如火如荼,为学生和教师开辟了一种全新的学习交流平台。 MOOC 凭借其本身海量的教育资源以及使用过程中积累的学习行为数据,成为大数据的显著代表。本文首先论述 MOOC 所体现的大数据“4V”特征。然后阐述面向 MOOC 的大数据辨析方法。最后结合 MOOC 大数据辨析,给出两点关于我国高等教育的启示及国外相关案例剖析。     

“Can We Get There from Here?” Negotiating the Washouts,Cave-Ins,Dead Ends,and Other Hazards on the Road to Research on Africa

SUMMARY

This introduction to Africana reference describes the populations of researchers, the kinds of questions they ask, and how librarians–both specialist and generalist–may respond. It explores issues in “known-item” searches, including name authority and access to material in collected works and series. Choices made by authors, publishers, indexers, librarians, and researchers themselves have an impact on topic searches. Terminology for African languages, ethnic groups, place names, and topics cause problems for novice researchers, but library policy decisions can also impede access. Errors of all kinds–minor or major–can block access to information. The speed of electronic desktop publishing seems to have encouraged reduced care with proofreading, indexing, and verification of quotations and citations. The need for accurate information about Africa is great, but the market for publications and electronic resources focused on Africa is relatively small. This low market share can result in less coverage of Africa in indexes and reference tools. Despite the difficulties encountered in researching Africa, researchers and the librarians who assist them benefit from the tools, services, and initiatives of specialist Africana librarians and from a number of commercially produced resources.     

Cataloging Monographic Serial Analytics

Abstract

Analyzing serial issues of a monographic nature as a mechanism for connecting users to topical content has been a longstanding practice at the Iowa State University Library. Although studies have shown that monographic analysis of selected journal issues is a method of providing access to topical issues that citation databases often do not provide, the labor cost in providing original cataloging for some of these issues remains high. This article details the rationale and decision making that resulted in the implementation of a new process for reducing the amount of monographic analysis that is provided for uniquely titled journal issues.     

Strategies for Catalog Management of Electronic Monographs in Series

Electronic monographic series display a complex mix of the characteristics of electronic serials, electronic books, and print monograph series. Because many cannot be managed via the typical tools and services used to manage electronic resources, providing title-level, or analytic cataloging presents challenges above and beyond the usual challenges for e-resources. This article enumerates those challenges, proposes a set of criteria for making analysis decisions for e-monograph series, and suggests other directions libraries might pursue to provide catalog access to this important category of resources.     

Changing spaces of education: new perspectives on the nature of learning

This case study relates to distance learning students on open access courses. It demonstrates the use of predictive analytics to generate a model of the probabilities of success and retention at different points, or milestones, in a student journey. A core set of explanatory variables has been established and their varying relative importance at different milestones identified. The explanatory variables, milestones and reference points when the model is run will be different at other institutions but the approach may be generalised to distance learning institutions and, more broadly, to any HE institution. Institutions, and especially distance education institutions which do not have the advantages of frequently seeing students, need to make full use of any recorded information they hold to try and identify students who are, or become, at potential risk of leaving. The importance of different factors, at different milestones, may help tailor student support to individual students and therefore improve low retention in open access distance education.     

学习活动流：一个学习分析的行为模型

智慧教育体现了教育信息化发展的新境界,表达了一种技术以智慧性方式促进教育变革与创新的诉求,这一目标的实现离不开学习分析技术。学习分析的核心就是观察和理解学习行为,以倒溯方式考察影响行为产生的需要、动机等因素,以及行为所携带的目的、个性、环境等元素,从而加以利用以优化学习过程及其发生的环境。而一个好的行为模型将大大助力于对这些信息的收集、分析与理解。学习活动流模型的提出补充了以往学习行为分析所没考虑的学习来源的多元化以及学习活动的持续性问题。借鉴活动流的描述机制,情景化注意元数据被加以改造并得到学习活动流的描述模型,而基于学习活动流的学习情境分析则探讨了对这一行为模型的学习分析应用,并以信息感知和资源推送为例展示了其实践应用。     

脑神经科学的研究方法

运用科学认识论和方法论，比较分析1970年、1994年和2000年的诺贝尔生理医学奖，重点讨论了“慢突触传递”发现过程中的科学方法，进而说明了脑神经系统研究的主要方法特点是实验观察法和理论分析法的巧联结。