Analytics are useful for students, teachers, course developers, instructors and institutions.  They provide data that drive all stakeholders.  Students become aware of their need to monitor coursework while being more responsible for their learning. Teachers can benefit by learning how to improve instruction for their students, and student performance leads to reflection of how the courses are being developed.  Institutions can then provide the most up to date courses with the very best tools that drive and improve student performance.  The use of analytics paves the way for how students interact with peers, teachers and content while providing opportunities to measure these interactions.  As a result, institutions can draw conclusions about how to determine student success and retention.

Which levels remain most valuable for the online instructor in regard to student performance?

For student performance the student and teacher levels are most valuable for the online instructor in regard to student performance, but all levels are regarded as valuable for all stakeholders.

Student Level – Students want to know where they stand in the course and what they need to do to learn and succeed.  Analytics can give them a quick view of their progress. This allows them to see if they are on track or if they need to spend more time to master the topic.  Students’ time spent online and exploring can be tracked and this is useful analytical information.  This type of information can help the students because teachers are alerted and will then know that the student is in need of some differentiated assignments in order to achieve success. 

Teacher Level – allows teachers to see how many times students were exposed to material before they were successful. Teachers can use this information to individualize instruction and to motivate the students.  Teachers can then reflect on their teaching with this information.  Teachers can see what information is proving to be difficult for the students in order to revisit instruction. Teachers are able to see if their feedback is motivating and assisting their students as well. If not, teachers can reflect on their type of feedback and seek alternative means of communicating encouragement. Teachers will be able to use analytics to document their successful interventions. 

Course Level – This analytical information allows course developers to improve or change their course content. It also gives the institution valuable information about teachers’ effectiveness in delivering the content.  This will drive teachers to use quality resources in an effort to improve student learning and to receive excellent evaluations. This is a means to motivate teachers to use as many interactive activities as possible to engage the students in collaborative situations for improved learning.

Program Level – Provide data for the institution to evaluation the success and effectiveness of the programs so that administrators will know what should be improved.