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Using Learner Analytics to Understand Student Achievement in a Large Enrollment Hybrid Course. John Whitmer, Ed.D. & Kathy Fernandes Academic Technology Services California State University, Office of the Chancellor CATS 2013, Sonoma State University February 19, 2013. Outline. Context - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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John Whitmer, Ed.D. & Kathy FernandesAcademic Technology Services
California State University, Office of the Chancellor
CATS 2013, Sonoma State UniversityFebruary 19, 2013
Using Learner Analytics to Understand Student Achievement in
a Large Enrollment Hybrid Course
Outline1. Context
2. Learning Analytics, Methods & Tools
3. Findings
4. Conclusions & Next Steps
5. Becoming a Data Scientist (pending time & interest)
Why are you here? 1. To increase my knowledge of “Learning
Analytics”
2. To get ideas about how I can become a “Data Scientist” (or practice analytics)
3. To learn about the results of this study
4. Because this was the closest room
1. CONTEXT
Case Study: Intro to Religious Studies• Undergraduate, introductory, high demand
• Redesigned to hybrid delivery format through “academy eLearning program”
• Enrollment: 373 students (54% increase on largest section)
• Highest LMS (Vista) usage entire campus Fall 2010 (>250k hits)
• Bimodal outcomes:• 10% increase on final exam• 7% & 11% increase in DWF
• Why? Can’t tell with aggregated data
54 F’s
Guiding Questions1. How is student LMS use related to academic
achievement in a single course section?
2. How does that finding compare to the relationship of achievement with traditional student characteristic variables?
3. How are these relationships different for “at-risk” students (URM & Pell-eligible)?
4. What data sources, variables and methods are most useful to answer these questions?
It takes a village … Chico “Graduation Initiative” endorsement Former CIO (Bill Post included in project portfolio) Registrar approval
Active participation: – Kathy Fernandes, Director Academic Technology– William A. Allen, Director of Institutional Research– Scott Kodai, Manager Distributed Learning
Technologies and Classroom Services
Predict the trend: Grade w/Mean LMS Hits
What will the trend look like?
Strong Trend: Grade w/Mean LMS Hits
2. LEARNER ANALYTICS, METHODS & TOOLS
Learner Analytics
“ ... measurement, collection, analysis and reporting of data about learners and their contexts, for purposes of understanding and optimizing learning and the environments in which it occurs.” (Siemens, 2011)
How? Knowledge & Skills Involved
http://www.drewconway.com/zia/?p=2378
Data Extracts & Sources LMS Data
– SQL queries on WebCT Vista web server log file
Student Data– Query against Peoplesoft data– ERSS data elements (common to CSU)– Required Institutional Research
Course Data– Query against Peoplesoft data
Tools Used
App Function
Excel Early data exploration; simple sorting; tables for print/publication
Tableau Complex data summaries and explorations; complex charts; presentation chartsFinal/formal descriptive data; statistical analysis; some charts (scatterplots)Statistical analysis (factor analysis)
Methods at a Glance1. Clean/filter/transform/reduce data (70% effort)2. Descriptive / exploratory analysis (20% effort)3. Statistical analysis (10% effort)
– Factor analysis– Correlation single variables– Regression multiple variables; partial & complete
Final data set: 72,000 records (-73%)
Variables
3. FINDINGS
Correlation: Student Char. w/Final Grade
Scatterplot of HS GPA vs. Course
Grade
LMS Use Variables
Administrative Activities (calendar, announcements)
Assessment Activities (quiz, homework, assignments, grade center)
Content Activities (web hits, PDF, content pages)
Engagement Activities (discussion, mail)
Student Characteristic Variables Enrollment Status First in Family to Attend
College Gender HS GPA Major-College Pell Eligible URM and Pell-Eligibility
Interaction Under-Represented
Minority URM and Gender
Interaction
Predict the trend LMS use and final grade is _______ compared to
student characteristics and final grade:
a) 50% smallerb) 25% smallerc) the samed) 200% largere) 400% larger
Predict the trend LMS use and final grade is _______ compared to
student characteristics and final grade:
a) 50% smallerb) 25% smallerc) the samed) 200% largere) 400% larger
Correlation LMS Use w/Final Grade
Scatterplot of Assessment Activity
Hits vs. Course Grade
Conclusion: LMS Use Variables better Predictors than Student Characteristics
LMS Use
Variables
18% Average(r = 0.35–0.48)
Explanation of change in final grade
Student Characteristic
Variables
4% Average(r = -0.11–0.31)
Explanation of change in final grade
>
Smallest LMS Use Variable
(Administrative Activities)
r = 0.35
Largest Student
Characteristic
(HS GPA)
r = 0.31
>
Combined Variables Regression Final Grade by LMS Use & Student Characteristic Variables
LMS Use
Variables
25% (r2=0.25)
Explanation of change in final grade
Student Characteristic
Variables
+10%(r2=0.35)
Explanation of change in final grade
>
Predict the trend LMS use and final grade is ______ for “at-risk”*
students?a) 50% smaller than not at-risk studentsb) 20% smaller than not at-risk studentsc) No difference than not at-risk studentsd) 20% larger than not at-risk studentse) 100% larger than not at-risk students
*at-risk = BOTH under-represented minority and Pell-eligible
Predict the trend LMS use and final grade is ______ for “at-risk”*
students?a) 50% smaller than not at-risk studentsb) 20% smaller than not at-risk studentsc) No difference than not at-risk studentsd) 20% larger than not at-risk studentse) 100% larger than not at-risk students
*at-risk = BOTH under-represented minority and Pell-eligible
At-Risk Students: “Over-Working Gap”
33
Question 3 Results:Regression by “At Risk” Population Subsamples
WHAT CAUSED THAT DIFFERENCE?
Activities by Pell and Gradegrade / pelleligible
A B+ C C-
Pell-Eligible Not Pell-Eligible Pell-Eligible Not Pell-Eligible Pell-Eligible Not Pell-Eligible Pell-Eligible Not Pell-Eligible0K
5K
10K
15K
20K
25K
30K
35K
Value
Content
Content
Engage
Engage
Assess
Assess
Admin
Admin
Content
Content
Engage
Engage
Assess
Assess
Admin
Content
Content
Engage
Engage
Assess
Assess
Content
Content Engage
Engage
Assess
Assess
Admin
Admin
Measure NamesAdmin
Assess
Engage
Content
Extra effort in content-related activities
Previous Studies Relating LMS Use to Course Grade
4. CONCLUSIONS & NEXT STEPS
Conclusions1. At the course level, LMS use better predictor of
academic achievement than student demographics (what do, not who are).
2. Small strength magnitude of complete model demonstrates relevance of data, but suggests that better methods could produce stronger results.
3. LMS data requires extensive filtering to be useful; student variables need pre-screening for missing data.
More Conclusions4. LMS use frequency is a proxy for effort. Not a
very complex indicator.
5. Student demographic measures need revision for utility in Postmodern era (importance to student, more frequent sampling, etc.).
6. LMS effectiveness for at-risk students may be caused by non-technical barriers. Need additional research!
CSU Learner Analytics Collaborative Projects
Moodle: mCURL (Moodle Common Use Reporting &
Learning Analytics)
8 CSU & 2 UC Campuses
Building common SQL queries for accurate & comparative use metrics
2 rounds of data collection already completed and discussed
Blackboard: Analytics for Learn Pilot
3 CSU Campuses
Bb Learn Analytics product available “off the shelf”; defined and integrated with Peoplesoft
Building common queries & campus-specific reporting
5. SO YOU WANNA BE A DATA SCIENTIST?
Choose your domain(s)
http://www.drewconway.com/zia/?p=2378
Potential Resources Math/Stats: campus classes
MOOC resources (search “Data”, “Statistics”, or “Analytics”)
Society for Learning Analytics Research (http://www.solaresearch.org/)
Learning Analytics Resources (http://johnwhitmer.net/resources/)
Feedback? Questions?
Kathy [email protected]
John Whitmer [email protected]
Complete monographhttp://bit.ly/15ijySP
Twitter: johncwhitmer
BONUS SLIDES
Missing Data On Critical Indicators
LMS Use Consistent across Categories
Factor Analysis of LMS Use Categories
Ideas & FeedbackPotential for improved LMS analysis methods: time series analysis social learning activity patterns discourse content analysis
Group students by broader identity, with unique variables: Continuing student (Current college GPA, URM, etc. First-time freshman (HS GPA, SAT/Act, etc)