Handbook of Learning Analytics

Chapter 26

Handbook of Learning Analytics
First Edition

Unleashing the Transformative
Power of Learning Analytics

Linda L. Baer & Donald M. Norris


Abstract

Learning analytics holds the potential to transform the way we learn, work, and live our lives. To achieve its potential, learning analytics must be clearly defined, embedded in institutional processes and practices, and incorporated into institutional student success strategies. This paper explains both the interconnected concepts of learning analytics and the organizational practices that it supports. We describe how learning analytics practices are currently being embedded in institutional systems and practices. The embedding processes include changing the dimensions of organizational culture, changing the organizational capacity and context, crafting strategies for student success, and executing change management plans for student success. These embedding processes can dramatically accelerate the improvement of student success at institutions. The paper includes some institutional success stories and instructive failures. For institutions seeking to unleash the transformative power of learning analytics, the key is an aggressive combination of leadership, active strategy, and change management.

Export Citation: Plain Text (APA)     BIBTeX     RIS


Supplementary Material

No Supplementary Material Available

References (25)

Ali, N., Rajan, R., & Ratliff, G. (2016, March 7). How personalized learning unlocks student success. Educause Review. http://er.educause.edu/articles/2016/3/how-personalized-learning-unlocks-student-success

Baer, L., & Norris, D. M. (2015, October 23). What every leader needs to know about student success analytics: Civitas White Paper. https://www.civitaslearningspace.com/what-every-leader-needs-to-know-about-student-success-analytics/

Baer, L., & Norris, D. M. (2016a). A call to action for student success analytics: Optimizing student success should be institutional strategy #1. https://www.civitaslearningspace.com/StudentSuccess/2016/05/18/call-action-student-success-analytics/

Baer, L., & Norris, D. M. (2016b). SCUP annual conference workshop: Optimizing student success should be institutional strategy #1. Society for College and University Planning (SCUP-51), 9–13 July 2016, Vancouver, BC, Canada.

Brown, M., Dehoney, J., & Millichap, N. (2015, June 22). What’s next for the LMS? Educause Review. http://er.educause.edu/ero/article/whats-next-lms.

Craig, R., & Williams, A. (2015, August 17). Data, technology, and the great unbundling of higher education. Educause Review. http://er.educause.edu/articles/2015/8/data-technology-and-the-great-unbundling-of-higher-education

Dahlstrom, E. (2016, August 22). Moving the red queen forward: Maturing analytics capabilities in higher education. Educause Review. http://er.educause.edu/articles/2016/8/moving-the-red-queen-forward-maturing-analytics-capabilities-in-higher-education

Dahlstrom, E., Brooks, D. C., & Bichsel, J. (2014).The Current Ecosystem of Learning Management Systems in Higher Education: Student, Faculty, IT Perspectives. ECAR. https://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ers1414.pdf

ECAR (2015, October 7). The predictive learning analytics revolution: Leveraging learning data for student success. ECAR Working Group Paper. https://library.educause.edu/~/media/files/library/2015/10/ewg1510-pdf.pdf

Heifetz, R. A. (2014, February 18). Adaptive and technical change. http://www.davidlose.net/2014/02/adaptive-and-technical-change/

Hilton, J. (2014, September 15). Enter UNIZIN. Educause Review. http://er.educause.edu/articles/2014/9/enter-unizin
Johnson, D., & Thompson, J. (2016, February 2). Adaptive Courseware at ASU. https://events.educause.edu/eli/annual-meeting/2016

Karp, M. M., & Fletcher, J. (2014, May). Adopting new technologies for student success: A readiness framework. http://ccrc.tc.columbia.edu/publications/adopting-new-technologies-for-student-success.html

Lamborn, A., & Thayer, P. (2014, June 17). Colorado State University Student Success Initiatives: What’s Been Achieved; What’s Next. Enrollment and Access Division Retreat.

Little, R., Whitmer, J., Baron, J., Rocchio, R., Arnold, K., Bayer, I., Brooks, C., & Shehata, S. (2015, October 7). The predictive learning analytics revolution: Leveraging learning data for student success. ECAR Working Group Paper. https://library.educause.edu/resources/2015/10/the-predictive-learning-analytics-revolution-leveraging-learning-data-for-student-success

Mintzberg, H., Ahlstrand, B., & Lampel, J. (1998). Strategy Safari: A guided tour through the wilds of strategic management. New York: The Free Press.

Miyares, J., & Catalano, D. (2016, August 22). Institutional analytics is hard work: A five-year journey. Educause Review. http://er.educause.edu/articles/2016/8/institutional-analytics-is-hard-work-a-five-year-journey

Moore, K. (2009, November). Best practices in building analytics capacity. Action Analytics Symposium.

Norris, D., & Baer, L. (2013). A toolkit for building organizational capacity for analytics. Strategic Initiatives, Inc.

Norris, D., & Keehn, A. K. (2003, October 31). IT Planning: Cultivating innovation and value. Campus Technology. https://campustechnology.com/Articles/2003/10/IT-Planning-Cultivating-Innovation-and-Value.aspx

Rees, J. (2016, August 30). Adoption leads to outcomes at American Public University System. Civitas Learning Space. https://www.civitaslearningspace.com/adoption-leads-outcomes-american-public-university-system/

Sclater, N., Peasgood, A., & Mullan, J. (2016, April 19). Learning analytics in higher education: A review of UK and international practice. https://www.jisc.ac.uk/reports/learning-analytics-in-higher-education

Slade, S. (n.d.). Learning analytics: Ethical issues and policy changes. The Open University (PowerPoint presentation). https://www.heacademy.ac.uk/system/files/resources/5_11_2_nano.pdf

Weiss, M. R. (2014, November 10). Got skills? Why online competency-based education is the disruptive innovation for higher education. Educause Review. http://er.educause.edu/articles/2014/11/got-skills-why-online-competencybased-education-is-the-disruptive-innovation-for-higher-education

Yanosky, R., & Brooks, D. C. (2013, August 30). Integrated planning and advising services (IPAS) research. Educause. https://library.educause.edu/resources/2013/8/integrated-planning-and-advising-services-ipas-research


About this Chapter

Title
Unleashing the Transformative Power of Learning Analytics

Book Title
Handbook of Learning Analytics

Pages
pp. 309-318

Copyright
2017

DOI
10.18608/hla17.026

ISBN
978-0-9952408-0-3

Publisher
Society for Learning Analytics Research

Authors
Linda L. Baer1
Donald M. Norris2

Author Affiliations
1. Senior Fellow, Civitas Learning, USA
2. President, Strategic Initiatives, Inc., USA

Editors
Charles Lang3
George Siemens4
Alyssa Wise5
Dragan Gašević6

Editor Affiliations
3. Teachers College, Columbia University, USA
4. LINK Research Lab, University of Texas at Arlington, USA
5. Learning Analytics Research Network, New York University, USA
6. Schools of Education and Informatics, University of Edinburgh, UK


Society for Learning Analytics Research (SoLAR)