Learning Analytics Education: A Case Study, Review of Current Programs, and Recommendations for Instructors

Abstract

The interdisciplinary field of learning analytics has quickly grown into a global community of researchers, practitioners, and educators. The community has used journals, conferences, workshops, and informal online outlets as venues for knowledge exchange, co-creation, and inspiration. As the field matures, institutions of higher education increasingly offer educational programs to train the next generation of leaders in learning analytics research, practice, and policy. These efforts to disseminate the theories, methods, applications, and values of the learning analytics community in formal and informal educational environments are the focus of this chapter. We systematically survey the international landscape of current learning analytics programs (degree programs, certificates, courses, workshops, and online resources) to identify the scope and characteristics of available programs. We then present an in-depth case study of a learning analytics course offered to undergraduate and graduate students at Cornell University. The case study demonstrates a pedagogical approach to learning analytics education for students with a more technical emphasis. Finally, we discuss the current state of learning analytics education and identify challenges and opportunities for learning analytics education going forward.