The Analytics in Learning and Teaching

How can we better understand the learning process? How do we know what is actually happening in the learning process? How can educators make improvements in their teaching?

All these questions and more I always think about and I am sure thousands of teachers do. What can we do as educators of new generations of learners? We live in a new technologies century, with computing devices and open education. I am really happy with the new shift of education in general and the higher education in particular, from just lecturing and reading materials or books which have limited effects on the learning, into analytics learning. Learning analytics is more specific than academic analytics. The former’s focus is exclusively on the learning process whereas learning analytics centers on the learning process. Analytics have many positive trails. It provides learners with insight into their own learning. It also provides up-date information and can innovate and transform colleges and universities systems.

The story of the woman in India who died while trying to get the chance of applying her son into the college, really affected me. I really envy those who can make a difference in others lives, and as teachers we can make that difference, may be because of that I really like teaching. I wish I can be the change agent wherever I teach. But of course the technology is there to help the teachers or the educators, and we can’t just ignore it. On line education is one of the greatest things that technology offers, Daphne Koller gave the example of computer checking and giving feedback to thousands of learners which is something a human being cannot do. I am amazed with the idea of the computer asking a question while an online learner attending a lecture, and how he/ she cannot go on the lecture until he gives the correct answer to the question. On line education can offer opportunities to millions of people who don’t have the chance to be in a college or university for their higher education. NLGC focus on the educational possibilities that analytics can offer (http://nextgenlearning.org/).