Understanding privacy and data protection issues in learning analytics using a systematic review

The field of learning analytics has advanced from infancy stages into a more practical domain, where tangible solutions are being implemented. Nevertheless, the field has encountered numerous privacy and data protection issues that have garnered significant and growing attention. In this systematic review, four databases were searched concerning privacy and data protection issues of learning analytics. A final corpus of 47 papers published in top educational technology journals was selected after running an eligibility check. An analysis of the final corpus was carried out to answer the following three research questions: (1) What are the privacy and data protection issues in learning analytics? (2) What are the similarities and differences between the views of stakeholders from different backgrounds on privacy and data protection issues in learning analytics? (3) How have previous approaches attempted to address privacy and data protection issues? The results of the systematic review show that there are eight distinct, intertwined privacy and data protection issues that cut across the learning analytics cycle. There are both cross-regional similarities and three sets of differences in stakeholder perceptions towards privacy and data protection in learning analytics. With regard to previous attempts to approach privacy and data protection issues in learning analytics, there is a notable dearth of applied evidence, which impedes the assessment of their effectiveness. The findings of our paper suggest that privacy and data protection issues should not be relaxed at any point in the implementation of learning analytics, as these issues persist throughout the learning analytics development cycle. One key implication of this review suggests that solutions to privacy and data protection issues in learning analytics should be more evidence-based, thereby increasing the trustworthiness of learning analytics and its usefulness.publishedVersio

Towards learning analytics adoption: A mixed methods study of data-related practices and policies in Latin American universities

In Latin American universities, Learning Analytics (LA) has been perceived as a promising opportunity to leverage data to meet the needs of a diverse student cohort. Although universities have been collecting educational data for years, the adoption of LA in this region is still limited due to the lack of expertise and policies for processing and using educational data. In order to get a better picture of how existing data‐related practices and policies might affect the incorporation of LA in Latin American institutions, we conducted a mixed methods study in four Latin American universities (two Chilean and two Ecuadorian). In this paper, the qualitative data were based on 37 interviews with managers and 16 focus groups with 51 teaching staff and 45 students; the quantitative data were collected through two surveys answered by 1884 students and 368 teachers, respectively. The findings reveal opportunities to incorporate LA services into existing data practices in the four case studies. However, the lack of reliable information systems and policies to regulate the use of data imposes challenges that need to be overcome for future LA adoption.In Latin American universities, Learning Analytics (LA) has been perceived as a promising opportunity to leverage data to meet the needs of a diverse student cohort. Although universities have been collecting educational data for years, the adoption of LA in this region is still limited due to the lack of expertise and policies for processing and using educational data. In order to get a better picture of how existing data‐related practices and policies might affect the incorporation of LA in Latin American institutions, we conducted a mixed methods study in four Latin American universities (two Chilean and two Ecuadorian). In this paper, the qualitative data were based on 37 interviews with managers and 16 focus groups with 51 teaching staff and 45 students; the quantitative data were collected through two surveys answered by 1884 students and 368 teachers, respectively. The findings reveal opportunities to incorporate LA services into existing data practices in the four case studies. However, the lack of reliable information systems and policies to regulate the use of data imposes challenges that need to be overcome for future LA adoption

Factors affecting the deployment of learning analytics in developing countries: case of Egypt

The higher education institutions in developing countries such as Egypt are challenged with the high enrollment student rates, crowded classes and inability to track the progress of each student individually which increased the demand to find a solution that can redeem those problems. Although the usage of learning analytics is an expanding solution to support different educational challenges from performance tracking to detecting students at risks, learning analytics’ developments concentrated on addressing solutions for developed countries. Accordingly, the discipline still requires a broader and indepth interpretation of its contextual usage in developing countries especially Egypt. A research model has been constructed based on literature and tested for its validity and reliability. A questionnaire has been distributed on 148 university students. The study used smart-PLS to interpret and analyze the collected data. The study revealed that organizational culture, data accessibility, trustworthy, visualization has a positive effect on the awareness, while lack of ability has a negative effect on the awareness. Both infrastructure and awareness have significant positive effect on learning analytics impact. The research indicates high learning analytics awareness and high perceived impact on the Egyptian higher education. Evidence should be provided with the collection of more insights from students, faculty members and decision makers

“We’re being tracked at all times”: Student perspectives of their privacy in relation to learning analytics in higher education

Higher education institutions are continuing to develop their capacity for learning analytics (LA), which is a sociotechnical data mining and analytic practice. Institutions rarely inform their students about LA practices and there exist significant privacy concerns. Without a clear student voice in the design of LA, institutions put themselves in an ethical grey area. To help fill this gap in practice and add to the growing literature on students’ privacy perspectives, this study reports findings from over 100 interviews with undergraduate students at eight United States highereducation institutions. Findings demonstrate that students lacked awareness of educational data mining and analytic practices, as well as the data on which they rely. Students see potential in LA, but they presented nuanced arguments about when and with whom data should be shared; they also expressed why informed consent was valuable and necessary. The study uncovered perspectives on institutional trust that were heretofore unknown, as well as what actions might violate that trust. Institutions must balance their desire to implement LA with their obligation to educate students about their analytic practices and treat them as partners in the design of analytic strategies reliant on student data in order to protect their intellectual privacy

Digital Rights and Responsibility in Education: A Scoping Review

Studies on digital rights in education have both gained attention and provided a framework for research, policy and practice in educational research within the field of educational technology. The potential benefits we appreciate in Internet use are inseparable from the maximum risks involved. Faced with this responsibility, individuals demand that their rights and freedoms be guaranteed in the digital environment according to their various roles as students, teachers, families or staff. This scoping review selects and analyses 54 theoretical and empirical studies from the last decade (2013-2023), identifying the main topics investigated as privacy protection in online environments, right to digital security or cybersecurity, and right to digital education. The review underscores the need to guide efforts towards digital education for citizens because the legal regulation of rights and responsibilities is necessary but insufficient. The paper also makes arguments about acceptance, limitations and implications for teacher training.European Regional Development Fund’s 2014-2020 Operational Program, the Andalusian Government, and Spain’s Department of Economic Transformation, Industry, Knowledge and Universities (Project A.SEJ.46.UGR 2020)

La analítica del aprendizaje y las expectativas de los estudiantes universitarios

Learning analytics involves the collection of educational data that higher education institutions can implement into support services to aid student learning. Despite its relevance, research on this topic is still very scarce, the truth is that more and more educational institutions are interested in learning more about this trend and its scope. The purpose of this article was to measure the expectations of the students of the learning analytics services through a descriptive instrument with a Likert-type scale that estimates 12 expectations related to ethics and privacy as well as the characteristics of the service; A sample of 675 undergraduate and master's level students from a University in Mexico was taken. The results revealed that there is an acceptance of learning analytics services where women value it more than men, as well as areas of opportunity that allow the higher education institution to adapt these expectations in the implementation and development of his politics of learning analytics.La analítica del aprendizaje implica la recopilación de datos educativos que las instituciones de educación superior pueden implementar en servicios de apoyo para ayudar en el aprendizaje de los estudiantes. A pesar de su relevancia, aún siguen siendo muy escasos las investigaciones sobre este tema, lo cierto es que cada vez son más las instituciones educativas interesadas en conocer más de esta tendencia y sus alcances. El propósito de este artículo fue medir las expectativas de los estudiantes de los servicios de la analítica del aprendizaje a través de un instrumento descriptivo con escala de tipo Likert que estima 12 expectativas relacionadas con la ética y privacidad, así como las características del servicio; se tomó una muestra de 675 estudiantes de nivel de licenciatura y maestría de una Universidad en México. Los resultados revelaron que existe una aceptación por los servicios de la analítica del aprendizaje donde las mujeres lo valoran más que los hombres, así como se evidenciaron áreas de oportunidad que permiten que la institución de educación superior pueda adaptar estas expectativas en la implementación y desarrollo de su política de la analítica del aprendizaje. 

La analítica del aprendizaje y las expectativas de los estudiantes universitarios

Learning analytics involves the collection of educational data that higher education institutions can implement into support services to aid student learning. Despite its relevance, research on this topic is still very scarce, the truth is that more and more educational institutions are interested in learning more about this trend and its scope. The purpose of this article was to measure the expectations of the students of the learning analytics services through a descriptive instrument with a Likert-type scale that estimates 12 expectations related to ethics and privacy as well as the characteristics of the service; A sample of 675 undergraduate and master's level students from a University in Mexico was taken. The results revealed that there is an acceptance of learning analytics services where women value it more than men, as well as areas of opportunity that allow the higher education institution to adapt these expectations in the implementation and development of his politics of learning analytics.La analítica del aprendizaje implica la recopilación de datos educativos que las instituciones de educación superior pueden implementar en servicios de apoyo para ayudar en el aprendizaje de los estudiantes. A pesar de su relevancia, aún siguen siendo muy escasos las investigaciones sobre este tema, lo cierto es que cada vez son más las instituciones educativas interesadas en conocer más de esta tendencia y sus alcances. El propósito de este artículo fue medir las expectativas de los estudiantes de los servicios de la analítica del aprendizaje a través de un instrumento descriptivo con escala de tipo Likert que estima 12 expectativas relacionadas con la ética y privacidad, así como las características del servicio; se tomó una muestra de 675 estudiantes de nivel de licenciatura y maestría de una Universidad en México. Los resultados revelaron que existe una aceptación por los servicios de la analítica del aprendizaje donde las mujeres lo valoran más que los hombres, así como se evidenciaron áreas de oportunidad que permiten que la institución de educación superior pueda adaptar estas expectativas en la implementación y desarrollo de su política de la analítica del aprendizaje.