The document summarizes Adam Cooper's presentation at the Talis Insight conference in 2015 on the themes of learning analytics. It identifies four main themes: data warehouses, dashboards, predictive analytics, and retention and intervention systems. For each theme, it provides a brief critical view. The presentation encourages moving the field forward through open discussion, sharing, and participatory design to socially construct knowledge about learning analytics in a way that considers people and current practices.

1. Themes in Learning Analytics –
A Critical View
Adam Cooper
Talis Insight 2015
#laceproject #cetisuk

2. No-one REALLY knows what
Learning Analytics is! 2

3. Defining [Learning] Analytics
Analytics is the process of developing actionable insights through
problem definition and the application of statistical models and
analysis against existing and/or simulated future data.
Adam Cooper
Learning analytics is the 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.
Society for Learning Analytics Research
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4. What is Life?
Life is the period between birth and death, which
may include episodes of reproduction.
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5. In Broken Images
He is quick, thinking in clear images;
I am slow, thinking in broken images.
He becomes dull, trusting to his clear images;
I become sharp, mistrusting my broken images,
Trusting his images, he assumes their relevance;
Mistrusting my images, I question their relevance.
Assuming their relevance, he assumes the fact,
Questioning their relevance, I question the fact.
When the fact fails him, he questions his senses;
When the fact fails me, I approve my senses.
He continues quick and dull in his clear images;
I continue slow and sharp in my broken images.
He in a new confusion of his understanding;
I in a new understanding of my confusion.
Robert Graves
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6. Four Recurrent Themes
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7. The Four Themes Are:
• Data Warehouses
• Dashboards
• Predictive Analytics
• Retention and “Intervention” Systems
A Critical View!
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8. Data Warehouses
OK, we need to manage data,
but…
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9. Dashboards
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10. Predictive Analytics
The epitome of analytics?
Technically sophisticated…
but, like a space-alien ray gun,
is it safe for us to use?
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11. Retention and Intervention Systems
Watch Cath Ellis! https://vimeo.com/85331242
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12. A Response
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13. We Don’t REALLY Know, but…
Strategies for discovery
• Converse &
Socially-construct knowledge
• Share
• Open practice
Strategies for doing
• Action research
• Small is beautiful
• Open systems
• People in the system
• Start from current practice
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• Participative design

14. Learning Analytics Community Exchange Project
workshops – presentations – white papers – blogging
evidence hub – network of associates
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Suppliers
Entrepreneurs
Teachers
Learners
Researchers
Policy-makers
Library
Academic
managers
Institutional
managers
IT staff
Student
services

15. “Themes in Learning Analytics – A Critical View” by Adam Cooper,
Cetis, was presented at Talis Insight on April 15th 2015.
adam@cetis.org.uk
This work was undertaken as part of the LACE Project, supported by the European Commission Seventh
Framework Programme, grant 619424.
These slides are provided under the Creative Commons Attribution Licence:
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. Some images used may have different licence terms.
www.laceproject.eu
@laceproject
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Come and talk with
me

16. Credits
Thinking boy outline - from the US government EPA "Sunwise" program
https://openclipart.org/detail/630/thinkingboy-outline
Data warehouse overview – public domain – Hhultgren
via wikimedia commons http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Data_warehouse_overview.JPG
Learn Course At-a-Glance – Blackboard Analytics for Learn
http://www.blackboard.com/Platforms/Analytics/Products/Blackboard-Analytics-for-Learn.aspx
IBM Coremetircs Explore
http://www-03.ibm.com/software/products/en/digital-analytics
Arrivals – CC BY T. Gregorius
via wikimedia commons http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Big_data_cartoon_t_gregorius.jpg
Special Intervention Unit – CC BY Hexogen
Via wikimedia commons http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Special_Intervention_Unit-Kosovo.jpg
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