Looking through a different lens: The analysis of ICT data to inform teaching practice
Presenter: Shane Dawson
Senior Research Fellow
Centre for Learning Innovation
Queensland University of Technology, Australia
This presentation discusses the adoption of e-learning metrics to assist instructors in evaluating their own teaching performance in order to improve the overall student learning experience. Currently, teacher evaluations and feedback are often derived from measures such as institutional surveys and interviews. Although these measures provide valuable information regarding student learning and teaching performance indicators, they are labour intensive, re-active and are subject to 'survey fatigue'. As they are also more formalized, and infrequent, the opportunity for an instructor to monitor the success of their teaching in an ongoing way is limited. The presentation outlines a current international research project focusing on the analysis of data derived from institutional learning management systems for informing teaching practice.
The presentation will outline an international research project (Australia/Canada) detailing the research intent and current outcomes. Participants will be presented with a series of data derived from various learning management systems as a discussion focus. Participants will be requested to discuss what the LMS data is indicating with regards to individual teaching practice. Discussions will be extended to identify how LMS data can be used to inform education administrators of instructor behaviour, student learning and the broader adoption of ICT tools across the institution.
Dr Shane Dawson is a Senior Research Fellow with the Centre for Learning Innovation at Queensland University of Technology, Australia. His research has focused on the application of data derived from institutional information and communication technologies (ICTs) to inform teaching practice. Shane’s work has lead to the development of specific ICT-collected lead indicators of student sense of community and course satisfaction. Shane now leads an international project (Australia and Canada) examining the potential for data derived from Learning Management Systems to identify students requiring early learning interventions and to provide a lead indicator of the sense of community forming between learners. Shane has published widely on the evaluation of e-learning and the use of ICTs for promoting student sense of community.