About SoLAR

The Challenge

We are experiencing an unprecedented increase in the quantity and quality of information and data available not only to us but also about us. We must adapt individually, institutionally and culturally to the transition in technologies and social norms that makes this possible and question their impacts and implications for learning and knowledge building.

Vision

SoLAR’s vision is to be recognized as the leading organisation promoting research and implementation of learning analytics in education.

Mission

SoLAR has the following priorities to advance the field of learning analytics globally:

1. Foster the highest standards of academic research in learning analytics
2. Promote the development of open educational resources in learning analytics
3. Raise awareness of learning analytics amongst policy and decision-makers in educational institutions and governments
4. Create opportunities for the diverse stakeholders in learning analytics to communicate, collaborate, debate and support the implementation and adoption of learning analytics

Members

SoLAR members are academic researchers, practitioners, product developers, institutional leaders, government policy analysts, educators and students in the interdisciplinary field of learning analytics.

Goals - April 2021

1. Increase the diversity and inclusivity of the SoLAR Community
2. Expand impact and increase understanding of learning analytics
3. Communicate the value of membership to all members
4. Increase overall engagement within the SoLAR Community

Enablers

In addition to the SoLAR Executive, SoLAR Working Groups assist in furthering the vision and mission and include:

1. Communications: to oversee the internal and external communications of the Society
2. Education: to promote the development of high-quality Learning Analytics educational resources
3. Events: to encourage and support the community in hosting learning analytics related events to further the mission of the Society
4. Inclusion: to develop and implement initiatives aimed to promote, elevate and foster an open, diverse, and inclusive environment
5. Journal: to create and disseminate new tools, techniques, study transformations, and provide ongoing evaluation and critique of conceptual, technical and practice outcomes.
6. Membership: to work on initiatives to expand membership benefits and increase overall membership for the Society.
7. Special Interest Groups: to promote and support the establishment of SIGs within the Society