Scaling Learning Analytics across Institutions of Higher Education

The Open Academic Analytics Initiative (OAAI) seeks to increase college student retention by performing early detection of academic risk using predictive analytics. OAAI examined the degree to which a model built using data from Marist College would compare to the original model built at Purdue University, and we found the models to be statistically similar. For the research project reported in this paper, the OAAI sought to improve understanding of how learning analytics can best be scaled across institutions of higher education. During the spring 2012 semester, the OAAI successfully deployed an open-source learning analytics solution at two community colleges (Cerritos College and College of the Redwoods) and one historically black university (Savannah State University) as a means to further research in this emerging field.

The Seeking Evidence of Impact (SEI) program is intended to bring the teaching and learning community into a discussion about ways of gathering evidence of the impact of our innovations and current practices. The goal of the SEI case studies is to provide examples of successful projects evaluating the impact of innovation, technology, and best practices in teaching and learning.

In addition to the SEI case studies, you may find other ELI resources useful in addressing teaching, learning, and technology issues at your institution. To learn more, please visit the ELI Resources page.