An institutional and sector-wide approach to implement learning analytics

Higher education institutions urgently require policies and strategies for the implementation of the use of learning analytics. Collaborating in research with the Supporting Higher Education to Integrate Learning Analytics (SHEILA) Project, the RAPID Outcome Mapping Approach (ROMA) provided a framework for developing a policy for wide-scale institutional adoption of learning analytics, after an initial exploratory piloting process. This piloting process consisted of the use of learning analytics in five diverse classes across all four faculties, capturing evidence of impact on learning, teaching and student success. This evidence, combined with a wide range of literature, was used to develop the institutional strategy.

Additionally, the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education, Scotland’s (QAA) current Enhancement Theme, Evidence for Enhancement: Improving the Student Experience, has provided a platform to engage with the Scottish HE sector in learning analytics. Through hosting two workshops, we have advanced the understanding and highlighted the sector needs in this area. By providing recommendations to QAA on the areas requiring further understanding, this will be taken forward by collaborative clusters of institutions. This work will be disseminated to and is for the benefit of the whole Scottish sector. In this paper, our institutional ROMA and piloting process will be discussed, in addition to the Scottish sector priorities for learning analytics.