What learning analytics should actually be telling you
Numbers should spark action, not just reporting
I’ve worked with institutions that had dashboards for everything, course completions, quiz scores, and attendance logs. But the real question is: What decisions are we making with this data? Learning analytics only matter when they trigger meaningful dialogue. I once ran a workshop where we shared quiz drop-off data with faculty, not to critique, but to redesign. That single conversation led to a 16% lift in assessment completion.
My own background is in statistics and data analysis. I love data, sometimes even data for the sake of having data. But data alone will not solve any problems.
Ask better questions, get better learning
Instead of asking, “Did they finish?” I push teams to ask, “What made them stop?” or “What’s missing in the behavior we expected?” Data becomes useful when it’s tied to experience and outcomes. That’s why I embed reflection checkpoints, pulse feedback, and usage maps into every program I design. The goal isn’t just insight, it’s iteration.
Takeaway
Analytics aren’t the answer. They’re the start of a smarter conversation.
Discussion Prompt
What’s one learning metric you think we overuse, or overlook?
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