As research has shown, the more highly a student engages the more likely they are to reach their potential or go above and beyond, so engagement data is critical to ensuring students are able to succeed at university. Here are some tips to consider when looking at engagement data in your institution based on our experience of working with universities over the last ten years.
Every learning journey is unique and it is important to remember the individual when looking at engagement analytics, especially in an increasingly blended learning environment. Some students will prefer to attend physical lectures whilst others watch recordings. In both examples the student is engaged but accessing their learning in different ways.
How students engage can give you an indicator as to which students are at risk of withdrawing and having a simple dashboard that makes sense of that complexity can make it easier for you to see the outliers and identify the students who are most in need of support, allowing you to get upstream of issues before it is too late to address them.
Over the course of each week, semester and academic year you will see a natural rise and fall in the way students engage. Comparing how an individual student is engaging to the rest of their cohort can show whether it is an unexpected fluctuation. Also, consider the academic calendar – a student who has a dip in engagement before a period of exams may benefit from additional support.
Students interact with dozens of digital resources every day. By understanding how they are using these digital services you can get an insight into the academically purposeful activity that is taking place. The data is already being collected as the digital touch points are used, so make the most of the information to ensure students are getting the support they need to succeed.
Data gives you the information to understand how your students are engaging with their learning, however it is never the whole story. What it provides is the insight needed to facilitate informed and meaningful conversations between students and their academic advisors, ensuring that each student has the support they need to be as successful as possible.
To find out more about how StREAM can help you understand what engagement looks like for your institution, visit our website or book a demonstration today.
You can also download and print out our top tips for your institution.
