Improving the Student Experience with Learning Analytics in Construction Project Management Courses

11 pages•Published: October 23, 2017

Peter Saunders, Ehsan Gharaie, Andrea Chester and Cathy Leahy

Abstract

Learning analytics is an emerging field that has been gaining momentum in higher education. Learning analytics is the analysis and reporting of learner related data. Research has examined the benefits of learning analytics in higher education but there has been limited research conducted about the impact of showing students their own learning data. The aim of this study was to provide students with their own learner data, obtain feedback about the usefulness of this information and investigate if providing learning data leads to an increase in self-efficacy and self-reflection. The sample consisted of 78 students studying construction management, project management, and property and valuation. Students were provided with weekly learner reports that included data about their behaviour in a learning management system, their level of interaction in lectures, and their performance on assessments. A suggested target was provided toward an individualised behaviour goal, as well as comparison with both the contemporary class average and previous class averages. Students completed measures of self-efficacy and self-reflection pre and post intervention and feedback about the reports was obtained through surveys and a focus group. Results showed no significant change in self-efficacy and self-reflection, however, students reported finding the learning analytics reports helpful, believed it helped them reflect on their own learning and wanted to see more analytics in other subjects. Results support the use of learning analytics in the classroom and suggest that they may enhance the student experience.

Keyphrases: construction project management, higher education, learning analytics

In: Marsha Lamb (editor). AUBEA 2017: Australasian Universities Building Education Association Conference 2017, vol 1, pages 505-515.

Links:	https://easychair.org/publications/paper/XgvK
	https://doi.org/10.29007/vrbv

BibTeX entry

@inproceedings{AUBEA2017:Improving_Student_Experience_with,
  author    = {Peter Saunders and Ehsan Gharaie and Andrea Chester and Cathy Leahy},
  title     = {Improving the Student Experience with Learning Analytics in Construction Project Management Courses},
  booktitle = {AUBEA 2017: Australasian Universities Building Education Association Conference 2017},
  editor    = {Marsha Lamb},
  series    = {EPiC Series in Education Science},
  volume    = {1},
  publisher = {EasyChair},
  bibsource = {EasyChair, https://easychair.org},
  issn      = {2516-2306},
  url       = {/publications/paper/XgvK},
  doi       = {10.29007/vrbv},
  pages     = {505-515},
  year      = {2017}}

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