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Learning Analytics

Libraries often have ‘learning’ in their mission and vision statements.  For this to have more meaning we’re told that we should be able to measure it.   There is that old saw (which I disagree with BTW), that you can’t manage what you can’t measure.   Despite that, I still think it’s a good idea to review and measure and see what insights you can come up with.

Educause has publlished another “7 Things” guide, 7 Things You Should Know About First-Generation Learning Analytics.

http://www.educause.edu/Resources/7ThingsYouShouldKnowAboutFirst/242966

“Broadly speaking, analytics programs evaluate large data sets to provide decision makers with information that can help determine the best course of action for an organization. Learning analytics (LA) takes this same approach but with the specific goal of improving learning outcomes, which could be measured by grades, retention, or completion.”  As usual, the quick reference resource answers the following questions: What is it? How does it work? Who’s doing it? Why is it significant? What are the downsides? Where is it going? What are the implications for teaching and learning?

As usual it is a simple two pager in EPUB or PDF.  Download it after the link:

http://www.educause.edu/Resources/7ThingsYouShouldKnowAboutFirst/242966

Stephen

 

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Posted on: January 3, 2012, 7:26 am Category: Uncategorized

4 Responses

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  1. Stephen, what you’ll find when reading the learning analytics literature is that oftentimes academic libraries are mentioned as a possible data source. This, I think, raises questions about how such use of data would square with librarian values of privacy and intellectual freedom. I’m exploring this in my blog, http://libraryanalytics.blogspot.com.

  2. You can’t manage what you can’t measure? Erm.. how many folks manage families? Emotions? Friendships?

    IMO- the most important things managed in life are never measured (in any formal/traditional manner, anyhow).

  3. Yes I totally agree with you that there are things that we can’t measure. Then again, IMHO, that’s no excuse to measure nothing, share less, or just keep bad statistics in libraries.
    We do need to get better at comminicating the impact of libarries.
    Stephen

  4. Nancy: We were always able to get stats out of our ILS in many ways that wouldn’t lead to being able to identify anyone specifically. I know that SirsiDynix provides a very wide range of tools for this. At Gale we provide a great number of stats and satisfaction numbers too for licensed resources.
    SA