Curricular and learning analytics: A big data perspective

Analytics is about insights. Learning Analytics is about insights on factors such as capacity of learners, learning behaviour, predictability of learning concerns, and nurturing of cognitive aspects of learners, among others. Learning Analytics systems can engage learners to detect and appreciate insights generated by others, engage learners to investigate models on learning factors, and engage learners to create new insights. This chapter offers details of this vision for learning analytics, particularly in light of the ability to collect enormous amounts of data from students’ study episodes, wherever they happen to study using whatever resources they employ. Further, the chapter contends that learning analytics can also be used to make statements on the efficacy of a particular curriculum and recommend changes based on curricular insights.