Exploring the benefits and challenges of learning analytics in higher education institutions: a systematic literature review

Date01 March 2019
Published date01 March 2019
DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1108/IDD-06-2018-0018
Pages25-34
AuthorShahira El Alfy,Jorge Marx Gómez,Anita Dani
Subject MatterLibrary & information science,Library & information services,Lending,Document delivery,Collection building & management,Stock revision,Consortia
Exploring the benets and challenges of
learning analytics in higher education
institutions: a systematic literature review
Shahira El Alfy
Business Faculty, Higher Colleges of Technology, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
Jorge Marx G
omez
Department fur Informatik, Carl von Ossietzky Universitat Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany, and
Anita Dani
Foundation Department, Higher Colleges of Technology, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
Abstract
Purpose The potential capabilities and benets that learning analytics can provide are not fully utilized. A current stream of research suggests that
learning analytics has more to offer for continuous improvement of higher education institutions. This study aims to explore the opportunities that data
analytics stand to offer higher education and the challenges that plays down its role, adoption and usage in different areas of higher education institutions.
Design/methodology/approach This study adopts a systematic literature review approach in answering the research questions. The critical role
of learning analytics and the exploratory nature of research questions justify the use of systematic literature review. The current study used
systematic research process adapted and presented by Hallinger (2013) to be used in social sciences in general and in educationa l leadership and
management in particular. A standard process of nding relevant articles and examining reference lists is followed using articles from higher
education which is the research context.
Findings An examination of the literature showed that the majority of studies within the sample of articles are empirical representing 53 per cent,
32 per cent are conceptual, while only 15 per cent of the articles are a systematic lite rature review. Results also show that 58 per cent of the articles
are teaching and learning related, 34 per cent are management related, while only 8 per cent are research related. Several challenges and
opportunities of learning analytics in the three areas highlighted are presented and discussed.
Originality/value The benets and challenges of learning analytics are numerous and scattered in the literature. In this study, a typology related
to different educational domains is developed to shed light on the benets and challenges of learning analytics within particular higher education
areas that are relevant to specic stakeholders. Benets and challenges of learning analytics are classied into being management related, teaching
and learning related and research related.
Keywords Higher education, Data analytics, Educational data, Benets, Academic analytics, Learning analytics, Literature review, Challenges
Paper type Literature review
1. Introduction
Several actors in the external environment, including
technological advances, have forced major changes to
organizations including higher education institutions.
According to Ward (2013), some of the changes in higher
education are irreversible. Some of these changes include the
increasing demand on higher education intertwined with
limited capacity to meet demand, a continuous evolution of
quality denition in higher education, declining educational
quality (Kovtun and Stick, 2009), increasing need for efcient
use of resources (Gamboa and Melao, 2012), increased
accountability (Kai, 2009) and the revolutionary inuence of
technology on students learning experiences, teaching and
learning and managerial issues and decision-making in higher
education. In recent years, the teaching paradigm is shifting
from teacher-centered to learner-centered (Kivunja, 2014). To
meet the objectives of the twenty-rst century learning,
students are expected to develop critical thinking, adoption of
technology,teamwork and self-regulated learning.
The rapid advancement of technology is continuously
shaping all areas of higher education. Accordingly, it is crucial
to explore the development pathways that technology is
providing to learners,academicians and education managers to
prepare students for the twenty-rstcentury while attend to the
challenges androadblocks faced.
Data analytics have revolutionized different domains including
higher education in which e-learning and web-based technologies
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on
Emerald Insight at: www.emeraldinsight.com/2398-6247.htm
Information Discovery and Delivery
47/1 (2019) 2534
© Emerald Publishing Limited [ISSN 2398-6247]
[DOI 10.1108/IDD-06-2018-0018]
This paper forms part of the special section Higher education information
discovery, analytics, and dissemination, guest edited by Mounir Kehal
and Dr Justin Zhang.
Received 6 June 2018
Revised 27 July 2018
Accepted 8 August 2018
25

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