Data Driven Learning Design

Data LedLearning Design

Trend Analysis

Introduction to Data Led Learning Design

VS

Advantages

Challenges

Research into Data Led Learning Design

A closer look at the impact of the learning design trend and the possible impact on my practise.

Where could Data Led Design Lead?

Responding to digital activity

Simulate Tutoring

AI Support

References

Data Led Design on a Larger Scale

Currently, as we are a small start up education company this would be possible as the data is on a small scale, but I understand that if our vision of expanding comes to fruition I may need to incorporate yet another current trend, AI.

Data Led Personalisation

I was most interested by the article in Forbes called ‘Why Personalisation Learning Should be Centrestage at the World Economic Forum’ (Christensen, 2024). This article emphasised the importance of the trend of personalisation when creating digital learning design and how it could begin to replicate the one-on-one tutoring model that, 35 years ago, Benjamin Bloom had found to increase learning effectiveness compared to traditional classrooms by a significant margin. This was due to tutors identifying and addressing the needs of each student, going over material that has already been mastered and devoting more time to areas where students struggle. Tutoring not only improves average performance for almost all students, but also increases the achievement gap. My thought was, if you carefully selected data about what a student already knew, their personality and personal preferences you would begin to use data led design to create products that harness elements of the tutoring process.

References:

Christensen, U. J. (2024, March 6). Why personalized learning should be centerstage at the World Economic Forum. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/ulrikjuulchristensen/2019/01/22/why-personalized-learning-should-be-centerstage-at-the-world-economic-forum/?sh=1d5b4dc518eb Degreed. (2017, October 3). Data-Driven Learning Design | Lori Niles-Hofmann at Degreed Lens 2017 [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThQEWPVp2xo eLearning Company Blog & eLearning Company Blog. (2020, April 4). 6 Ways to Improve Courses with Data-Driven Learning. . . The eLearning Blog. https://elearning.company/blog/improve-courses-with-data-driven-learning-design/ Greene, R. T. (2023, February 23). Harnessing the power of data to drive High-Impact Learning experiences. eLearning Industry. https://elearningindustry.com/harnessing-the-power-of-data-to-drive-high-impact-learning-experiences TEDx Talks. (2018, September 12). How adaptive technology is beneficial for teachers and students | Pranav Kothari | TEDxGangtok [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7n5LCckKMDM

Digital Body Language

It occurred to me that with the use of data led learning design at the heart of my practice, I could use this adaptive technique to imitate features of one to one tutoring. This thought is not new and was what Lori Niles-Hoffmann (2017) was referring to when she used the term ‘digital body language’. This would mean that my learning design would not be just closing the academic or social/emotional knowledge gap of my student, but also responding to their learning needs or preferences. For example, a teacher in a classroom and could see a student was losing focus, in digital terms, this could equate to quickly swiping or not watching the full video. Alternativley it may be a teacher realising a student needs something consolidating, that same information maybe apparent digitally when you look at how often a page has been revisited. 'Digital Body Language' is therefore the online signals users give.

Impact & Relevance

What is the effect of the trend and why is it of interest?

In my current position as a Curriculum Designer in an education company (SAIL) for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), I assumed I would research the digital learning trend of personalisation as this is central to the ethos of the company and my values as an experienced SEND teacher. However, after watching Lori Niles-Hofmann at Degreed Lens (2017), who compared the approach of learning designers and marketing to show the impact of the marketing process ‘monitor and pivot’, not often employed by learning designers because of the cost, I was convinced that it was the data led learning design trend that I needed to explore.

The reason the trend struck accord with me was that our company is founded on the concept that SEND teachers need to know the specific diagnosed conditions of their students and this is further complimented, but currently not necessarily standard procedure, by in-depth psychometric assessments. Thereby giving teachers, the best insight possible to how a student will learn. Having investigated data driven learning design, like Pranav Kothari’s example in his TEDx Talk(2018), at SAIL we re already using academic and psychological assessment to workout gaps in a student’s knowledge as he is doing in India to ensure the students are accessing the correct digital learning programmes.

It takes more time as it introduces new initial steps to the design process – the data collection and the analysis of the data.

Time

It adds to the responsibilities of the learning designer and requires them to have access to data they may not currently be exposed to.

Access to data

The amount of data can be overwhelming so you need to be clear about what you will track and why, otherwise you could get bogged down in the complexities of it all.

Quantity

Data led learning design allows barriers to learning to be removed thereby making it more effective.

Effective Learning

It can give us insights to trends and help us make better future decisions as the data can lead to more accurate predictions of what is needed.

Predictive

The data is vast and can help us identify a huge range of information to help us understand our learners better.

Individual

Data led design is adaptive thereby incorporating elements of personalisation which is another key digital learning design trend.

Personalisation

Data Led Learning Design Explained

By choosing a data led design process you are using the information you already have about your learners in order to create your product. This student centred approach means you are not waiting until the end of the design and roll out process to evaluate the success of your learning design, instead you use the data to inform your decisions. The data can assist you in generating targeted learning objectives and where students need more support and instruction to meet these. It can show you student preferences when designing the learning content to maintain their enagement through enjoyment and accesibility. The data then collected from the student's experience can then be used to predict future needs and changes or alternatives that need to be provided thereby continuing to improve their learning.