Visualizations of Online Course Interactions for Social Network Learning Analytics

Abstract

Social network learning analytics aims to extract useful information to improve the learning process, but the variety of learning management systems makes this task burdensome and difficult to manage. This study shows how Gephi, a general-purpose, open-source social network analysis application, can be used by instructors and institutions to extract and visualize relevant information that is commonly hidden or difficult to observe for course coordinators and teachers. The empirical case study uses data from one cross-curricular course with 656 students at the Open University of Catalonia (UOC) and showcases the use of Gephi as a social network learning analytics tool. The study further discusses the potential of social network learning analytics to improve online instruction by visualization of educational data.