This is an aggregate of two studies. The first study used the Delphi method and surveyed global experts in learning analytics. The second study surveyed adjunct faculty in a distributed university. The two studies when combined present a holistic view of learning analytics, thoughts on implementation, and issues surrounding adoption.
Throughout this presentation, Dr. Aaron Glassman and Dr. Denise Bollenback will reveal expert and adjunct faculty opinions expressed through two different original research studies they have conducted within the past year. After conducting a Delphi research study of 21 global expert opinions as well as collecting 113 adjunct faculty perceptions in a distributed university setting, we have analyzed various challenges, barriers, and constraints in the diffusion of learning analytics. These studies will be combined to create a holistic view of learning analytics from the novice opinion through expert opinion and highlight where those opinions converge and diverge. The goal of both studies is to better understand pertinent constraints in learning analytics implementations across multiple organizational cultures and how to address those constraints. Using various change management theories and formulas as a framework, we will provide a thoughtful discussion for learning analytics implementations from two diverse yet complimentary viewpoints.
Managing change and subsequent resistance to change is one of the many challenges facing higher education institutions when attempting to implement a learning analytics strategy. Change management involves creating an environment that fosters consistent use of learning analytics toward continuous improvement initiatives. Throughout the results of these studies, several organizational behaviors and change management issues have come to light. Major stakeholders have an interest in leveraging insights based on analytics results to improve students’ success; however, their priorities tend to fall within their individual roles as faculty, program chairs, deans, students, tutors, teaching assistants, advisors, student success advocates, etc. In this presentation, we will explain the major findings from these research studies, while accentuating the most important influential factors of learning analytics implementation strategies. Our goal is to provide insights that will allow stakeholders to be in a better position to determine the most effective way to plan for organizational changes in culture within learning analytics implementations.