Is Learning Analytics the Future of Online Education?

Assessing Student Engagement and Academic Performance in the Online Learning Environment

Abstract

Educational structures have been evolving, that even so rapidly with the revolution of information technology and internet. Recent pandemic and its after effects are still looming over the globe, posing as challenge and an opportunity for educators. Online education was one such innovation, which has changed the dynamics of education around the world. The purpose of the paper is three-fold, first, to assess the levels of student engagement in the online learning environment, second, to examine how student engagement is related to their academic performance using learning analytic tools and third, to propose an integrated learning analytics framework. The study used, an exploratory research method and the data was collected from multiple sources; LMS Logs, self-administered questionnaires from students, and interviews with the instructor. The study was conducted at a course level in a private university. The finding suggests a positive relationship between student engagement and their academic performance and advocate the application of an analytics plug-in on LMS which supported instructors in identifying students at risk and providing them with real-time feedback aiming to improve their performance. The study provides insights into the field of online learning and offers evidence-based recommendations to educators. The utilization of Learning Analytics to examine student engagement and understanding of how students learn would contribute to the development of learning theories and in designing an appropriate digital learning environment that supports and improves their learning.