History
The Beginning:
The earliest use of analytics can be traced back as far as the 1940's. The earliest application of analytics was in businesses and industries. By systematically keeping track of data and analyzing statistics, companies were able to improve production, and efficiency. Which in turn led to a greater profit and created easier access by the consumer.
The Progression into Education:
This first was seen in education in the late 1970's with an idea that was called user modeling. At its earliest stages in education, they tried to use basic data points to generate ideas on how to create an education that is adaptive and personable to the student. This was tough to make any really headway though, because without the proficient use of technology it is very difficult to collect large samples of data that leads to effective results. Then in the mid 1990's, incoincidentally the same time computer technology began to soar, educators began trying to apply the same type of business analytics to try and improve education. Little success was made until 2004-2005 when they began to use a data analysis process called academic analytics which was focused on improving the university system for undergraduate students.
Present Day:
In 2011, they took the analytically process one step farther by creating the concept of learning analytics. Learning Analytics is defined as "as a collection of methods that allows teachers and learners to understand what is going on during the learning process." (EduTech Wiki) In recent years, the belief in the possibilities of purposefully and effectively applying learning analytics has really gained steam. The 2014 Horizon Report has predicted that in the next two to three years learning analytics in some form will be adopted and applied in schools with the availability of technology across the country. I believe that this is a big step in the right direction of consistently improving education for all students, through the systematical collection, analysis, and modification of educational practices through statistical proof on significant data points.
The earliest use of analytics can be traced back as far as the 1940's. The earliest application of analytics was in businesses and industries. By systematically keeping track of data and analyzing statistics, companies were able to improve production, and efficiency. Which in turn led to a greater profit and created easier access by the consumer.
The Progression into Education:
This first was seen in education in the late 1970's with an idea that was called user modeling. At its earliest stages in education, they tried to use basic data points to generate ideas on how to create an education that is adaptive and personable to the student. This was tough to make any really headway though, because without the proficient use of technology it is very difficult to collect large samples of data that leads to effective results. Then in the mid 1990's, incoincidentally the same time computer technology began to soar, educators began trying to apply the same type of business analytics to try and improve education. Little success was made until 2004-2005 when they began to use a data analysis process called academic analytics which was focused on improving the university system for undergraduate students.
Present Day:
In 2011, they took the analytically process one step farther by creating the concept of learning analytics. Learning Analytics is defined as "as a collection of methods that allows teachers and learners to understand what is going on during the learning process." (EduTech Wiki) In recent years, the belief in the possibilities of purposefully and effectively applying learning analytics has really gained steam. The 2014 Horizon Report has predicted that in the next two to three years learning analytics in some form will be adopted and applied in schools with the availability of technology across the country. I believe that this is a big step in the right direction of consistently improving education for all students, through the systematical collection, analysis, and modification of educational practices through statistical proof on significant data points.
Luke,
ReplyDeleteI am seeing a trend with the emerging trend in technology topics. All have started with the business world. It is amazing that it has taken so long to reach education, but now I see school districts going full steam ahead to use technology to collect data on student learning.