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Learning Design & Learning Analytics Activity 11 Block 4

Visible to anyone in the world

  1. Checkpoint and Process Analytics - what are they?
  2. Demonstrate their use.

Lockyer et. al 2013 Fig 4

This figure from Lockyer et. al. (2013, Fig 4:1450, adapted from Bennet 2002) show how a linear sequence plotted vertically combines elements of learning design used at each sequential stage of the class or work plan (the stages are numbered in the yellow column). For each stage options for the use of LA are given to assess the efficacy of the learning design (Large O is process analytics, star checkpoint analytics.                 

The icons in the columns represent:

Blue triangles = content or tool used

Green rectangles = learner activity

Orange Circles = teacher or peer facilitation

Obviously this represent only 3 facets of LD but we used a number for Compendium designs in H800 and the same could be done here. Here the swim-lanes I used in Compendium are represented by coloured columns. Compendium could be used to create these models using the icons for each swim lane. This does not differentiate content from tool, I would.

In in each line measures can be taken.

1.    Checkpoint analytics count the numbers involved in the process at this ‘checkpoint’ for comparison with other stages of the sequence, our expectations, aims or experience from past use of this class design or another.

1.1. Here we collect:

1.1.1.   No. 1 – The number of learners given the task (and perhaps the number of facilitators if any required to do this).

1.1.2.  No. 5 – The numbers who receive feedback on their project proposal.

1.1.3.  No.  6 - The numbers of those who complete participants involved in thei project and reflection on it or just the project alone.


2.    Process analytics visualize the stage (coded perhaps by their type - as facilitator or learner for instance). Tools for producing such visualizations (Lockyer et. al. 2013:1445)  include:

2.1. SNAPP (Social Networks Adapting Pedagogical Practice) which produces analysis of the social networks in operation at this stage of the design. These represent participants as the nodes of a network diagram and can label the links between nodes with a measure of their ‘strength’ relative to each other (no of contacts might be used to represent this measure). This can show situations such as:

2.1.1.   Peer interactions with equal and shared participation.

2.1.2.   Peer interactions where one (or two) peer (node) dominated the others and mediates all interactions.

2.1.3.   Peer interactions where one facilitator / teacher (node) dominates the others and mediates all interactions (teacher-centric stages of a pedagogy).

2.2. LOCO shows how individuals and groups interact with learning content.

2.3. GLASS shows student and group activity online for monitoring purposes.

 These analytics have immediate face validity to teachers, learners and learning groups.

 Lockyer, L., Heathcote, E. & Dawson, S. G. (2013) ‘Informing Pedagogical Action: Aligning Learning Analytics with Learning Design’ in American Behavioral Scientist 57 (10) 1439 – 1459. 

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