1. Developing a Strategy for the Implementation of Learning Analytics at the University of Strathclyde
Ainsley Hainey, Howard Ramsay,
Brian Green, Helyn Gould,
Scott Walker, Michael Aherne

2. About the University
Scotland’s 3rd largest university with 24,000 students & 3,500 staff
History:
Founded in 1796 by Professor John Anderson – an educational reformer with the goal of education for all
‘Useful Learning’
Today:
£500m campus renewal
Cutting-edge laboratories and facilities including Technology & Innovation centre
Learning & Teaching Hub
Future Teaching; Future Learning

3. Strathclyde’s Education Context
Course Programmes
No.*
Undergraduate Programmes
(BA, BEng, MEng, BSc, MSci, BBA, LLB)
243
Postgraduate Programmes
(MSc, MEd/PGDip/PgCert, March, LLM, Mlitt)
155
Research Programmes
(PhD, MPhil, MRes, EngD, DBA, Industrial Doctorate, EdD) 32
Level of Study
Student Headcount UG
13,160 PG
4,990
PGR
1,500
TOTAL
21,978
Indicator %
UG Retention
94.2%
PG Retention
97.5%
PGR Retention
96.2%
Mode of Delivery
Student Headcount
Attendance
17,776
Distance Learning
1,852
Open Learning
360
Research
1,990
* Programmes offered for 2016/17
All data from 2015/16 Academic Year

4. Engaging with Strathclyde’s Distinctiveness
Vision, Mission & Strategy
The place of useful learning
A leading international technological university
Innovative, impactful & socially progressive
Outstanding student experience
Strathclyde’s Learning Analytics Focus
Improving student outcomes
Enhancing Assessment and Feedback
Support for Widening Participation
Develop an institutional strategy to establish the value of Learning Analytics to support individual student learning and teaching excellence.

5. Data Levels and Data Sources
Student Level
Micro:
Subject Level
Meso:
Corporate Level
Macro:
Data Sources
SUnBIRD
Student Records
Strategic KPIs: UK NSS, UK DLHE and Retention
Assignments
Examinations
Student Performance
Module Evaluation
Internal Surveys
VLE Use
Mobile App
Library
Attendance
Student Support Services
Mechanisms
HESA Returns
SFC Outcome Agreement
Internal Strategy
TEF
Module Review
Course Review
Curriculum review
Enhancing A&F
Student Experience
Learning
Progression
Attainment
PDP
Careers
Support
Reports
Court
Senate
Education Committees
Executive Team
Internal Review
Faculty Annual Reports
Annual Monitoring
Feedback on the student experience & learner journey:
consistency, parity,
support & enhancement
Student Engagement
Outcomes
NSS Improvement Framework
Surveys & Metrics Working Group
Education Performance Indicators
Internal Review:
Data sets (e.g. NSS);
Dashboard (e.g. SUnBIRD);
Learning & teaching focus at subject level;
Class evaluation;
Learning Analytics

6. Strathclyde Learning Analytics: Meetings, Timelines & Milestones
Getting to the Learning Analytics start line
Universities Scotland Learning & Teaching Committee
Learning Analytics: an introduction and overview
Higher Education Academy Strategic Project Bid – basis for internal project funding
SOLAR & LAK 2015, 2016 & 2017
A welcoming learning community and a shortcut to best practice
Keynote presentation: Belinda Tynan, Open University
Multi-disciplinary team attended LAK 2016
Paper and roundtable at LAK 2017
Jisc
Student app pilot
Blackboard Learning Analytics Readiness Project (Feb 2016)
Jisc Learning Analytics Network Meetings

7. Strathclyde Learning Analytics: Meetings, Timelines & Milestones
Key Internal Reporting
University-wide Committees: Senate, Education Strategy
Regular updates to faculty, strategic learning and teaching committees and senior management
Students: Student Parliament, Student Representatives Congress
Linking Learning Analytics to Staff Development
Strathclyde Learning & Teaching Conference
June 2015 Belinda Tynan – Conference Keynote (LAK 2015)
June 2016 Strathclyde Learning Analytics Project progress Update

8. Jisc Learning Analytics Readiness Assessment
Four areas:
Culture, Processes, People, and Technology Infrastructure
The key recommendation is:
Implement a number of pilots using the VLE as the key data source to enable the University of Strathclyde to enhance institutional understanding, capacity, and capabilities for a centrally managed learning analytics service.

9. Jisc Learning Analytics Readiness Assessment - Outcomes
Strathclyde Outcome Aggregated Results (15 UK HEIs)
Taken from:
Jisc Learning Analytics Readiness Project, University of Strathclyde,
Final Report – 2nd February 2016
Taken from:

10. Pilot Projects 3rd year Electronic & Engineering class 69 students
Incorporating VLE data with practical lab attendance data
1st year Computing and Information Studies Class
101 students
Online engagement currently outwith VLE, replicated within VLE?
Postgraduate distance learning class in Child & Youth Care Studies
19 students
Incorporating VLE data with library e-resource access
Postgraduate elective class on MBA
23 students
Incorporating Progress Bar use on VLE and gathering student feedback on current intervention strategy
Postgraduate class on Teaching, Learning and Assessment
28 students
Piloting use of Jisc Study Goal App

11. Pilot Projects: Evidence for Future Implementation
Formal reporting structure
Class specific recommendations
Wider learning analytics implementation recommendations
Recommendations so far
Students responded to an individualised approach to interventions by however this is not practical for large classes
Students liked being able to view progress within a class and perceived a positive change in behaviour
Timing of intervention is important
Intervention strategies may not impact on student attainment; however they may contribute to an improved learner journey

12. Learning Analytics Steering Group
Remit:
To support the establishment of a high level institutional strategy for Learning Analytics and a strategy for trialling the use of data to support, with fully informed consent of staff and students, individual student learning and teaching excellence, in conjunction with appropriate concomitant strategies, policies and innovations.
Membership
Chaired by Deputy Associate Principal (Teaching & Learning)
Deputy Associate Principal (Teaching & Learning)
Deputy Director Education Enhancement
Learning Enhancement Manager
LA Project Officer
5 Pilot Participants, representing each faculty and OSDU
Assistant Director Library & Information Services
Business Intelligence Analyst
Vice President Education of Students Association

13. External Engagement
Partnerships and Networking with other Institutions and agencies:
UK Open University, Jisc, SHEILA Project
Hosting sector events
Jisc Learning Analytics Network Meeting
Other events to be announced

14. Next Steps Analysis and Dissemination of Pilot Outcomes
Analysis and recommendations to be completed for pilot projects
Technical infrastructure investigation and development
Specific questions to be answered by learning analytics to be defined
Identification of metrics from historical data
Institutional and local intervention strategies developed
Investigation into automated intervention strategies

15. Next Steps (2)
Fostering engagement with University staff and students and the wider learning analytics community
Work with colleagues to ensure project is adhering to upcoming GDPR
Insights and feedback from staff using focus groups will be used to shape the project
Development of policy, processes and guidance for the use of Learning Analytics to address ethical, legal and cultural matters

16. “What Works” & Lessons Learned?
Engagement across the University and with the sector
Involvement of expert professional colleagues, teaching faculty and our students
Achieving a common outcome by dedicating relatively small resource
Critical to have clear oversight and support from senior management
Effective team working, partnership and support to achieve the outcome