Blackboard Learn with Learning Analytics

One prominent learning environment offering embedded learning analytics is Blackboard Learn, widely used in universities worldwide. Blackboard includes a Learning Analytics Dashboard that tracks student engagement through metrics like login frequency, time spent on tasks, participation in discussions, and assignment submissions. The system aggregates this data to provide instructors with early warning indicators of students at risk and insights into class-wide patterns.

How it works:

Data from LMS activities are collected continuously.

Algorithms analyze activity trends and compare them to success indicators.

Educators receive visual dashboards highlighting students showing low engagement or performance risks.

The system supports targeted interventions such as personalized feedback or resource recommendations.

Effects:

Studies show increased instructor ability to intervene early, improving student retention ([Ferguson, 2014]; [Knight, 2020]).

Students who receive timely guidance tend to improve participation and outcomes.

The dashboard promotes data-informed decision-making for course redesign and teaching strategies.

However, the effectiveness depends on institutional support, teacher training, and the ethical use of data (Edelweiss Applied Science and Technology, 2024).

References

Edelweiss Applied Science and Technology. (2024). Implementing learning analytics in higher education: Opportunities and challenges. Edelweiss Applied Science and Technology, 8(6), 2048–2055. https://doi.org/10.55214/25768484.v8i6.2384

Ferguson, R. (2014). Setting learning analytics in context: Overcoming the barriers to large-scale adoption. Journal of Learning Analytics, 1(3), 120–144. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1127039.pdf

Knight, S. (2020). Implementing learning analytics for learning impact. Computers & Education, 160, 104024. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2020.104024

Relevant Links

Blackboard Learn Learning Analytics: https://www.blackboard.com/teaching-learning/learning-analytics

Setting learning analytics in context (Ferguson, 2014): https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1127039.pdf

Implementing learning analytics for impact (Knight, 2020): https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1096751620300051