Big(ger) data as better data in open distance learning

Authors

  • Paul Prinsloo University of South Africa
  • Elizabeth Archer University of South Africa
  • Glen Barnes University of South Africa
  • Yuraisha Chetty University of South Africa
  • Dion Van Zyl University of South Africa

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.19173/irrodl.v16i1.1948

Keywords:

Big Data, learning analytics, student success

Abstract

In the context of the hype, promise and perils of Big Data and the currently dominant paradigm of data-driven decision-making, it is important to critically engage with the potential of Big Data for higher education. We do not question the potential of Big Data, but we do raise a number of issues, and present a number of theses to be seriously considered in realising this potential.

The University of South Africa (Unisa) is one of the mega ODL institutions in the world with more than 360,000 students and a range of courses and programmes. Unisa already has access to a staggering amount of student data, hosted in disparate sources, and governed by different processes. As the university moves to mainstreaming online learning, the amount of and need for analyses of data are increasing, raising important questions regarding our assumptions, understanding, data sources, systems and processes.

This article presents a descriptive case study of the current state of student data at Unisa, as well as explores the impact of existing data sources and analytic approaches. From the analysis it is clear that in order for big(ger) data to be better data, a number of issues need to be addressed. The article concludes by presenting a number of theses that should form the basis for the imperative to optimise the harvesting, analysis and use of student data.

Author Biographies

Paul Prinsloo, University of South Africa

Research Professor in Open Distance Learning

Department of Business Management

Elizabeth Archer, University of South Africa

Directorate for Institutional Statistics and Analysis

Glen Barnes, University of South Africa

Directorate for Institutional Statistics and Analysis

Yuraisha Chetty, University of South Africa

Directorate for Institutional Statistics and Analysis

Dion Van Zyl, University of South Africa

Directorate for Institutional Statistics and Analysis

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Published

2015-02-12

How to Cite

Prinsloo, P., Archer, E., Barnes, G., Chetty, Y., & Van Zyl, D. (2015). Big(ger) data as better data in open distance learning. The International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning, 16(1). https://doi.org/10.19173/irrodl.v16i1.1948

Issue

Vol. 16 No. 1 (2015)

Section

Research Articles

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