Applying Learning Analytics in Online Environments: Measuring Learners' Engagement Unobtrusively

Prior to the emergence of Big Data and technologies such as Learning Analytics (LA), classroom research focused mainly on measuring learning outcomes of a small sample through tests. Research on online environments shows that learners' engagement is a critical precondition for successful learning and lack of engagement is associated with failure and dropout. LA helps instructors to track, measure and visualize students' online behavior and use such digital traces to improve instruction and provide individualized support, i.e., feedback. This paper examines 1) metrics or indicators of learners' engagement as extracted and displayed by LA, 2) their relationship with academic achievement and performance, and 3) some freely available LA tools for instructors and their usability. The paper concludes with making recommendations for practice and further research by considering challenges associated with using LA in classrooms.