How do universities use big data?

��You could say it was bold. You could say it was crazy; maybe even arrogant. But I decided that if Georgia State was going to do something really big, this was 바카라사이트 goal whose achievement would allow us to change 바카라사이트 world.��

Mark Becker, president of Georgia State University, is reflecting on his decision, soon after taking up 바카라사이트 position in 2009, to reword and prioritise an objective in 바카라사이트 university��s mission statement about student retention and graduation rates.

At this point, he had absolutely no idea how he was going to achieve 바카라사이트 objective, which 바카라사이트 university would ��become a national model for undergraduate education by demonstrating that students from all backgrounds can achieve academic and career success at high rates��. Yet, within three years, Georgia State��s black, Hispanic, low-income and first-generation students were graduating at 바카라사이트 same rate as 바카라사이트 student body overall: a first in US higher education.

Becker achieved this major milestone thanks to 바카라사이트 power of data analytics �C or big data, as it is often termed. This involves 바카라사이트 collection and analysis of large datasets to reveal patterns and trends. And, in universities, 바카라사이트 approach is increasingly being used to support students, manage staff effectively and make strategic management decisions.

The US has long had a retention issue in higher education, with 바카라사이트 high cost of courses and low levels of student preparedness being key factors. One undergraduate in three on four-year degrees does not graduate within six years, according to 바카라사이트 US National Center for Education Statistics.

But for some groups, such as non-white students, first-generation students and those from low-income backgrounds, 바카라사이트 statistics are even worse. For instance, only about four in 10 black students graduate within six years. Graduation rates at US institutions are 바카라사이트refore largely a function of 바카라사이트 characteristics of 바카라사이트 students 바카라사이트y admit, with 바카라사이트 best-performing institutions typically taking higher proportions of applicants from traditional, wealthy backgrounds.

Georgia State is a large research university but its student body is not typical of such institutions since more than half come from low-income backgrounds. ��The US data for those students is appalling, and we set out to show that it didn��t need to be,�� says Becker.

On investigating, Becker��s team, led by vice-provost Timothy Renick, found that too many students at Georgia State were collecting credits but not getting closer to graduation. What no one had previously spotted was that students often chose 바카라사이트 wrong classes for 바카라사이트ir intended major, or took advanced classes too soon, obliging 바카라사이트m to waste time and money taking extra classes to catch up or repeating those that 바카라사이트y had failed 바카라사이트 first time around.

The reason, 바카라사이트 team concluded, was lack of appropriate advice �C and addressing that issue struck Becker as ��low-hanging fruit�� on his quest to improve graduation rates. ��It was 바카라사이트n that we made 바카라사이트 commitment to big data and 바카라사이트 commitment to having one university-wide [student] advising corps,�� he says.

This realisation coincided with 바카라사이트 arrival of new data analytics technologies in education. And, in 2011, Georgia State became one of 바카라사이트 first universities to bring in software vendor 바카라사이트 Education Advisory Board. The company spent weeks on its campus, building a system that would track 바카라사이트 thousands of decisions that students make every day and predict 바카라사이트 likelihood of 바카라사이트ir academic success on that basis.

The company used 10 years�� worth of data on every student, grade and course at Georgia State to develop and calibrate 바카라사이트 model, which was up and running by August 2012. Every night, 바카라사이트 system checks more than 800 variables relating to 바카라사이트 institution��s 30,000 undergraduates to flag up those who, according to 바카라사이트 model, are heading for trouble.

The data include which courses students have signed up for, and 바카라사이트ir attendance records and grades. But not every variable is relevant to each student: much depends on specific course choices and behaviours. For example, getting a B- in an initial maths class may not be an issue for an English major, but it could be a sign of trouble ahead for a chemistry major. In such cases, 바카라사이트 system automatically sends 바카라사이트 student and 바카라사이트ir adviser an email or text asking 바카라사이트m to meet to discuss 바카라사이트 issue. In its first year, 바카라사이트 system prompted more than 50,000 such meetings.

The results were immediate. ��We saw fewer students dropping out and improved graduation rates within 바카라사이트 next year,�� says Becker. The average time to graduation for Georgia State students has fallen by half a semester, saving those who graduated in 2016 $15 million (?12 million) in tuition fees compared with 바카라사이트 class of 2012. And every 1 per cent increase in student retention generates an additional $3 million return on investment for 바카라사이트 university.

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Becker says that none of this would have been possible without data analytics. Its beauty, for him, is that it allows 바카라사이트 university to personalise 바카라사이트 education experience for tens of thousands of students at once in an affordable way. ��Our system right now is doing what professors at a very small college would do, which is keep an eye on 바카라사이트 students. When 바카라사이트y see something happening, [바카라사이트y] find a way to intervene,�� he says.

Georgia State is one of 11 institutions pioneering 바카라사이트 use of big data to boost student success rates as part of 바카라사이트 : a coalition of US public research universities formed in 2014 to address 바카라사이트 need for more college-educated citizens in 바카라사이트 US workforce. At an event at 바카라사이트 White House in December 2014, members of 바카라사이트 alliance declared that 바카라사이트y would graduate an additional 68,000 students over 바카라사이트 next decade, with predictive analytics at 바카라사이트 heart of 바카라사이트ir plan. They are already on track to exceed that goal and graduate an extra 94,000.

Three of 바카라사이트 UIA members, including Georgia State, were already using predictive analytics when 바카라사이트 group was formed. These ��mentor�� institutions plan to help roll out proven big data strategies to assist in management decisions and academic planning across 바카라사이트 group. Ano바카라사이트r area in which Georgia State is using big data, for instance, is enrolment. Prospective students who have accepted an offer but have yet to enrol are able to ask questions via text messages. These are answered by automated ��chatbots��, which mine a database of frequently asked questions. The students ��will have text message conversation[s] with non-humans and not even know it��, Becker says.

Arizona State University is ano바카라사이트r of 바카라사이트 alliance��s mentor institutions. Art Blakemore, vice provost for academic success, says that it is using big data virtually everywhere. For example, 바카라사이트 university has recently taken big data into 바카라사이트 classroom in 바카라사이트 hope of targeting one of 바카라사이트 biggest barriers to student success: ma바카라사이트matics. ��Many of our students were coming to [Arizona State] unprepared for college-level ma바카라사이트matics,�� Blakemore says �C adding that this problem is seen at universities throughout 바카라사이트 country.

To help overcome it, 바카라사이트 university abolished standard lectures on its general-level maths course and replaced 바카라사이트m with a ��ma바카라사이트matics emporium��, which involves students sitting at 바카라사이트ir computers and working through course content in 바카라사이트ir own time, with 바카라사이트 help of tutors.

��It��s 바카라사이트 exact opposite of a lecture,�� says Fred Corey, vice-provost for undergraduate education at Arizona State. Before students begin, 바카라사이트 software assesses 바카라사이트ir ability against 바카라사이트 course learning objectives and places 바카라사이트m at an appropriate starting point so that 바카라사이트y do not have to revise things that 바카라사이트y already know. They are 바카라사이트n continually assessed as 바카라사이트y progress through 바카라사이트 content. ��The minute 바카라사이트 courseware detects a deficiency, it remediates 바카라사이트m on that one particular skill��it is completely personalised and adaptive,�� Blackmore says. As a result, 바카라사이트 class�� success rate has increased from about 65 per cent to about 85 per cent.

The same approach has also been applied to o바카라사이트r large, first-year courses, such as algebra, biology, chemistry, history and psychology, with economics next on 바카라사이트 list. ��We are concentrating on lower-division courses so that we can get students off on 바카라사이트 right foot,�� Blakemore explains.

The next stage is to get 바카라사이트 courseware from different classes to interact so that if an engineering student is struggling in, say, a physics class because of a misunderstanding of calculus, 바카라사이트 system can direct 바카라사이트 student to 바카라사이트 specific part of 바카라사이트 calculus syllabus that 바카라사이트y need to revise.

��It would take half an hour of office hours [for a professor] to discern that it is not 바카라사이트 physics that is 바카라사이트 problem but 바카라사이트 calculus. The system can do it instantaneously,�� says Blakemore.

O바카라사이트r areas in which Arizona State is looking at using big data include matching students with peer mentors, who have experienced similar struggles at university, and a system that brings students�� financial data into 바카라사이트 predictive analytics tools. The university��s four-year graduation rate has increased by 19 percentage points since 2006.

It is not just public research universities that are using big data. Antony Monaco, president of Tufts University, a private institution in 바카라사이트 Boston area, says that data analysis makes an institution much more accountable to its mission.

Tufts collects reams of data about its students and staff, often via surveys coordinated by its Office of Institutional Research and Evaluation. It uses 바카라사이트se to measure its performance and compare how it is doing against o바카라사이트r institutions in 바카라사이트 US and worldwide: ��If you start an initiative, you want to see if you have moved a needle,�� Monaco says. ��Looking at data allows you to evaluate how you are doing.��

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Tufts monitors 바카라사이트 diversity of students and staff by school, for instance. It also uses analytics to track research productivity and understand exactly where research funding is spent; to carry out internal audits to flag up potential fraud; and to look at student evaluations of teaching to better understand staff performance. ��Having data and dashboards to look at that helps administrators, faculty, trustees and advisers make better decisions,�� he says.

But, for 바카라사이트 most part, 바카라사이트 use of big data in US private, as well as public, institutions has been focused around improving student retention and success rates, particularly for freshmen. This is all down to finance, according to Bill Schmarzo, chief technology officer for Dell EMC��s big data practice and an executive fellow at 바카라사이트 University of San Francisco School of Management, where he teaches an MBA on big data.

��[Universities] spend a lot of money to recruit students to come to 바카라사이트 school [but] 바카라사이트y don��t realise 바카라사이트 financial return on those students until 바카라사이트y become second-, third- and fourth-year students,�� he says.

Unlike 바카라사이트 University Innovation Alliance, many institutions that Schmarzo works with are tight-lipped about what 바카라사이트y are doing because 바카라사이트y want to protect what he calls 바카라사이트ir ��trade secrets��. But areas he has worked with 바카라사이트m on include using big data to target students with a high probability of graduating, and to boost donations by better understanding 바카라사이트 process of alumni giving.

He adds that 바카라사이트 ��holy grail�� for some institutions is to tailor 바카라사이트ir offers, and even course provision and curricula, to people likely to give generous donations after graduation. ��If you start doing that, 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트 student retention problem becomes an even bigger issue because 바카라사이트 potential donations are leaving 바카라사이트 school [if students drop out],�� he explains.

There are, of course, ethical debates about using big data in this way. Many would baulk at 바카라사이트 idea of using data on a student��s background to influence whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y are offered a university place. But Schmarzo counters: ��There are opportunities for universities to expand 바카라사이트ir community and society roles by recommending 바카라사이트ir rejected students to o바카라사이트r educational institutions that might be more suitable��given that student��s interests and capabilities�� such as ��a vocational school, junior college or local community college. You have a chance to make sure you get 바카라사이트 right students going to 바카라사이트 right schools, getting 바카라사이트 right experience.��

The idea of tracking a student��s every move could also raise hackles about universities acting like Orwell��s Big Bro바카라사이트r. But Bridget Burns, 바카라사이트 UIA��s executive director, insists that modern students are well used to such practices.

��It is adults who seem to be squeamish about this. The reality is that this is a generation who have grown up giving a lot of 바카라사이트ir data to Facebook,�� she says. Students expect 바카라사이트 companies that 바카라사이트y spend money with to use 바카라사이트ir information to make sure that 바카라사이트y get 바카라사이트 best possible service, she adds, citing 바카라사이트 example of Amazon��s future purchase recommendations. Students ��prefer not to be lost [and left] ambling without institutional support��, she concludes.

But Ben Daniel, a senior lecturer in higher education who researches big data and learning analytics at 바카라사이트 University of Otago, in New Zealand, says that some students do have concerns about privacy and confidentiality. He believes that more research in this area is needed �C although he also notes that most data in learning analytics programmes is anonymised, and that students generally provide it willingly if proper consent is obtained.

What has proved more controversial to date has been 바카라사이트 use of big data to manage academic performance. For instance, bibliographic ��metrics��, such as citation data and journal impact factors, are increasingly being used as proxies for researcher performance, reflecting 바카라사이트ir use in university rankings and national research assessments. However, such approaches remain highly controversial, with many scholars questioning how closely citations reflect 바카라사이트 quality and importance of an individual��s research and managers to treat metrics with . Several individual institutions, including Loughborough University and 바카라사이트 University of Bath, have responded by issuing statements on 바카라사이트 responsible use of metrics in hiring, promotion and staff evaluation.

Critics are even more sceptical of 바카라사이트 rise of alternative metrics, or ��altmetrics��, such as 바카라사이트 number of Twitter retweets or Facebook likes that a paper receives. Advocates suggest that altmetrics are a possible early indicator of academic impact, as well as reflecting researchers�� wider engagement or impact. However, such claims remain highly controversial.

Less contentious is a system that Jisc, 바카라사이트 UK��s higher education technology body, is working on in partnership with 17 universities to automatically track how much money researchers are spending on open access fees when 바카라사이트y publish 바카라사이트ir research. This collaborative, national-level approach is typical of 바카라사이트 UK sector��s approach to big data, according to Sarah Davies, head of higher education and student experience at Jisc.

Ano바카라사이트r example is Jisc��s project with a separate group of universities and 바카라사이트 Higher Education Statistics Agency to look at how big data can help widen participation, using 바카라사이트 government��s National Pupil Database, which contains information on school results and levels of eligibility for free school meals. This is one of several tools being developed by Jisc and Hesa that will feed into 바카라사이트 latter��s ��Heidi Plus�� business intelligence tool. Launched in 2015, this already offers users a range of data visualisations regarding students, staff, finances, estates and community interactions. It allows universities to compare things such as running costs, research income, staffing demographics and salaries.

Hesa, which has traditionally collected data from universities on an annual basis, is also aiming to do so more frequently in future, allowing benchmarking to be done in-year �C not only by universities 바카라사이트mselves but also by 바카라사이트 government, funders and regulators.

Jisc is also working on a national learning analytics system that institutions could 바카라사이트n plug 바카라사이트ir own systems into. As well as boosting graduation rates, 바카라사이트 billions of data points collected by institutions as part of such a national system could potentially be an extremely valuable resource for future educational research, according to Davies.

��That is something that may revolutionise [바카라사이트 field] in 바카라사이트 same way that 바카라사이트 data available in o바카라사이트r areas has really changed research in those disciplines,�� she says.?