Data and Analytics in Educational Context

The future of higher education is shaping, and higher institutions are trying to focus the educational community on the possibilities that can be gained by modelling learning change.

 However, the most dramatic factor that shapes the future of higher education is something that we cannot actually see or touch: big data and analytics. Basing decisions on evidence and data is stunningly obvious, and research indicates that data-driven decisionmaking improves organisational productivity and output.

Moreover, the move toward using evidence and data to make decisions is transforming not only the field of education but the other fields as well.  Indeed, some higher institutions have recently begun to consider how to apply analytics to understand the learning process better.  

Furthermore, A byproduct of the computers, the internet, computers and mobile devices learning

management systems (LMSs) is the transforming from ephemeral to captured, explicit data.  For instance,  reading a book or listening to a classroom lecture leaves limited trails. A hallway conversation essentially vaporises as soon as it is concluded. However,  every  Tweet, every social interaction or every page read online can leave a digital footprint.

Additionally, students cards, digital student records, online learning, mobile devices and online learning now capture rich data trails and activity streams. Moreover, these learner-produced data traces give a valuable insight into what is happening in the learning process and at the same time,  suggest ways for educators to make improvements. Thus, big data and analytics can be a useful tool for educators all over the world to analyse the learning process and make conscious rather than conditioned decisions. 

Furthermore, big data and analytics can be a useful tool not only for educators but for EFL professionals either. In other words, data analysis can provide EFL professionals with a strong foundation for doing research. Namely, data will give the   EFL professionals necessary information about the field and, at the same time, will provide information for further research.