TY  - JOUR
AB  - Purpose The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the utility of combining event-centred and variable-centred approaches when analysing big data for higher education institutions. It uses a large, university-wide data set to demonstrate the methodology for this analysis by using the case study method. It presents empirical findings about relationships between student behaviours in a learning management system (LMS) and the learning outcomes of students, and further explores these findings using process modelling techniques.Design/methodology/approach The paper describes a two-year study in a Chilean university, using big data from a LMS and from the central university database of student results and demographics. Descriptive statistics of LMS use in different years presents an overall picture of student use of the system. Process mining is described as an event-centred approach to give a deeper level of understanding of these findings.Findings The study found evidence to support the idea that instructors do not strongly influence student use of an LMS. It replicates existing studies to show that higher-performing students use an LMS differently from the lower-performing students. It shows the value of combining variable- and event-centred approaches to learning analytics.Research limitations/implications The study is limited by its institutional context, its two-year time frame and by its exploratory mode of investigation to create a case study.Practical implications The paper is useful for institutions in developing a methodology for using big data from a LMS to make use of event-centred approaches.Originality/value The paper is valuable in replicating and extending recent studies using event-centred approaches to analysis of learning data. The study here is on a larger scale than the existing studies (using a university-wide data set), in a novel context (Latin America), that provides a clear description for how and why the methodology should inform institutional approaches.
VL  - 34
IS  - 1
SN  - 2056-4880
DO  - 10.1108/IJILT-07-2016-0022
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1108/IJILT-07-2016-0022
AU  - Kelly Nick
AU  - Montenegro Maximiliano
AU  - Gonzalez Carlos
AU  - Clasing Paula
AU  - Sandoval Augusto
AU  - Jara Magdalena
AU  - Saurina Elvira
AU  - Alarcón Rosa
PY  - 2017
Y1  - 2017/01/01
TI  - Combining event- and variable-centred approaches to institution-facing learning analytics at the unit of study level
T2  - The International Journal of Information and Learning Technology
PB  - Emerald Publishing Limited
SP  - 63
EP  - 78
Y2  - 2024/04/23
ER  -