Learning analytics in higher education: a review of UK and international practice

Learning analytics refers to the measurement, collection, analysis and reporting of data about the progress of learners and the contexts in which learning takes place. Using the increased availability of big datasets around learner activity and digital footprints left by student activity in learning environments, learning analytics take us further than data currently available can. This report documents the emerging uses of learning analytics in the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom. Through a series of eleven case studies it presents an overview of the evidence currently available of the impact that analytics are having on teaching and learning – and highlights some of the opportunities for the UK higher education sector. Given the current focus on teaching excellence in the higher education sector, it will be of interest to policy makers and institutional leaders alike.

The case studies presented in this report are a snapshot of some of the most prominent institution level learning analytics initiatives worldwide. Together they provide evidence that: (1) researchers have demonstrated the validity of the predictive models used by learning analytics systems: (2) the interventions carried out with students have been effective; (3) there are other benefits to taking a more data-driven approach to higher education provision.

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