Learning-Analytics

Diana Oblinger, the President of EDUCAUSE, today announced the Next Gen Learning Challenges program. Information about the program, including the involvement of the Gates and Hewlett Foundations, is included in Diane’s announcement letter below. I’m humbled to serve on the Advisory Panel for the program, and am deeply interested in the topics of the first set of challenges identified for grant-making: Challenge 1: Open Core Courseware Expand access to high-quality, openly licensed courseware for developmental and general education. Challenge 2: Web 2.0 Engagement Integrate interactive Web 2.0 approaches to stimulate deeper learning and ultimately improve college readiness and completion. Challenge 3: Blended Learning Expand the use of established, effective online and face-to-face learning models on a cost-effective basis. Challenge 4: Learning Analytics Foster the development and implementation of easily accessible learning analytics for those directly involved in student success. The announcement reads: ...

I’m making a list of free / inexpensive tools for gathering data in open education contexts. These are tools that I can install on the wikis, blogs, and other sites I maintain where I curate and structure content for my students. Unfortunately, my list is rather short… What tools are you using to gather data from your online courses that I’m missing? Google Analytics Userfly Tynt For example, is there something you use to track which outgoing links people are clicking on? A tool you use to associate repeat visits and activity with the same individual (anonymously)? What kind of data are you collecting from your OER? How are you using it to improve your students’ experience? To improve your teaching? Are they plugins for Wordpress or Mediawiki or some other platform? Are they “one line embeds” like the tools listed above? What tools do we need the most that don’t exist yet? ...