As learning analytics utilizing “big data” relating to student performance become more sophisticated, individual teaching academics are being encouraged to leverage this rich information for the improvement of student success and the student experience (Beer, Jones & Clark 2012, Ferguson 2012, Clow 2013). This presentation reports findings from a national, federally-funded study including 29 Australian universities and over 400 university teachers, determining the maturity of the universities’ implementation of learning analytics for the improvement of student retention. Data was collected via an institutional level survey, an academic level survey and semi-structured interviews of teaching academics. Twenty-two institutions and over 350 teaching academics from across Australia responded to the institutional/individual surveys relating to their use/intentions for use of Learning Analytics data for the purposes of student retention and success. Survey and interview findings reveal that the use of analytics is embraced more actively by senior university leaders and teaching and learning and institutional research professionals than by individuals teaching in the classroom. Recommendations will be made relating to the increased readiness, encouragement and engagement of university teachers in learning analytics with student retention as an outcome. Participants will engage in a structured activity considering a formal model for universities’ implementation of learning analytics for student retention. They will be asked to determine the maturity level of their institutions in the use of learning analytics as well as how they feel that their own role and experience affects their view of the analytics wave that is changing how we support students worldwide.
Beer, C., Jones, D., & Clark, D. (2012). Analytics and complexity: Learning and leading for the future. In M. Brown, M Hartnett & T. Stewart (Eds.), Future Challenges, Sustainable Futures (proceedings ASCILITE, Wellington, 2012), (pp.78-87). Retrieved from http://www.ascilite.org.au/conferences/ wellington12/ 2012/images/custom/asclite2012_proceedings.pdf
Clow, D. (2013). An overview of learning analytics,
Ferguson, R. 2012. Learning analytics: Drivers, developments and challenges. International Journal of Technology Enhanced Learning, 4(5/6), 304–317. doi:10.1504/IJTEL.2012.051816
