Adam Brummett, lecturer in chemistry, Salim George, OTLT learning analytics specialist, and Jane Russell, director of OTLT Research and Analytics, will present at AAC&U’s Transforming STEM Higher Education Conference in early November. Their session, “Understanding and practicing the use of learning analytics for transforming STEM courses and improving student learning,” will discuss opportunities for incorporating learning analytics into a data-informed teaching approach and outline the process of translating learning data into interventions, including personalized messages for students. 

The Research and Analytics team partnered extensively with the University of Iowa Department of Chemistry to provide faculty with learning data. This culminated in a project with Brummett who devised a system to provide personalized feedback to students based on behaviors, engagement, and performance effectively and efficiently in the context of a large chemistry course. Survey results from multiple semesters indicated that students find these messages motivating and helpful. In open-ended comments, students expressed that receiving messages like these in the context of such a large course communicates a sense of care from the instructor and contributes to a positive class climate. 

Through discussions and facilitated activities, participants of their conference session will discover the different types of learning data that are available through learning management systems, digital textbooks, student response systems, homework platforms, and more and consider how it can inform course design and better support students. Participants will also get hands-on experience with developing potential interventions that can provide students with tailored support based on their learning behaviors and performance. 

Congratulations to this team as they prepare to present at AAC&U’s conference.