Choices taken by a course instructor to measure the material grasp of his students and arrange the course layout contributes largely to the impact the course has on the students and their ability to respectively complete their courses. A highly structured course reduces the time taken by a student to learn the course contents and in return gives the student more time to acquire more knowledge within the limited time. In addition, it helps students choose courses more easily from the various courses offered by learning institutions.
This increased learning efficiency not only enhances the student’s experience but also helps the course instructor meet some of his or her obligations. The most effective tool for assisting course instructors to make these decisions and choices that are to improve the learning experience of students is (Big)Data analytics. Big Data analytics assists instructors and students in determining where and how to improve the learning process.
Further, (Big) Data Analytics has opened up new avenues for improving the learning process by assisting teachers and students in making better decisions in relation to the learning process. This Agile decision-making is set to improve the education sector through the use of data to enhance innovation which is reflected in our daily lives by the creation of new tools and apps that help course instructors and students manage their time more efficiently.
Technology has been of significant importance in the learning process, however, of most importance is how instructors use the power of technology to support their decisions. The learning process is driven by what is commonly referred to as “soft skills”— the instructor’s social and emotional intelligence.
It is therefore important that instructors and learners understand how data analytics may assist the learning process in asking the proper questions and making the best use of analysis of data to support our decision-making. Big Data’s ability to quantify knowledge, personalize the learning experience, and assist us in designing more exciting courses are three ways in which we might profit from it.
Data Analytics helps in Quantifying knowledge: Measuring, monitoring, and Responding
(Big) Data Analytics enables an instructor to measure, monitor, and respond to a student’s grasp of the course material in real-time. Before the final mark is given, analytics that demonstrates how students learn might help instructors change their teaching techniques and address student needs. This is a significant advancement for instructors since it will improve our ability to correct any unconscious biases they may have about students’ engagement or performance.
Data Analytics help personalize the learning experience for students
Data Analytics makes courses appealing and personalized to students of various levels of understanding by helping instructors identify the different areas of need among their students. Students in introductory classes may have varying levels of fundamental understanding. Data analytics helps the instructor to identify areas where each student is faltering or succeeding, hence the instructor is able to offer alternative starting material for different students within the same course. This will increase student interest in the subject and help determine who should receive specialized learning content and attention.
Data Analytics help In designing New and Exciting courses
Data Analytics gives a better and a more clear understanding of the current market and employment trends. Hence It can be used by universities and Business Schools to design courses and curricula that fill the gap in the market.
In addition, the most important responsibility of being an instructor is to be able to evaluate your students and help them get better. Evaluation helps to determine the speed at which you will cover the course content and how to deliver the different concepts of the course to the students within the limited period of time you have with them. This is demonstrated at the university level where a professor asks his or her students questions, to explain the key ideas learned and gauge the level of understanding of the students.
Now, all these have been made easier and faster through the use of Data Analytics which has increased the speed of collection of data and provided an avenue for instructors to respond to the individual needs of their students. Even better, Data Analytics can predict graduation results hence helping instructors identify and focus on students who need more time and resources.
This use of large sets of data to provide guidance in the making of business decisions is crucial for the world of education and it is applicable to every industry that is willing to take advantage of the technological trends that drive economic and social change. If you are interested in working in such industries that manage businesses using data analytics, consider applying to the MSc in Data Analytics & Artificial Intelligence program where Students are instructed by leading practitioners who prepare them for management positions in the exciting data science and digital business initiatives which are being launched today.