Critiques of learning analytics?

Re: Critiques of learning analytics?

by Ken Masters -
Number of replies: 0
Anna, when I've asked that question (how the LMS is used), the most common responses were:

  1. That is information about individual courses and teachers, and we're not permitted to give that information (i.e. it is considered spying, running counter to privacy rules, academic freedom, etc.).
  2. The 'system' does not permit us to extract that information.
  3. We do not have the resources (i.e. people and time) to extract that information (alternately phrased as interfering with people's work of supporting the LMS).
  4. A reference to one or two 'successful' (cherry-picked) courses to give the impression that it is common across campus.
  5. A broad generalisation, of a listing of tools and what 'can' be done.
  6. Any combination of the above (#1 is very effective when used in conjunction with #4 and #5).
Perhaps people have just become cynical.

The best thing to do is to volunteer that information.