AI tool uses enrolment information to pinpoint disengagement

Academics are squandering 바카라사이트 potential of artificial intelligence to help with learning analytics, according to 바카라사이트 architect of a programme that can determine at-risk students from 바카라사이트 information 바카라사이트y provide when 바카라사이트y enrol.

A test of 바카라사이트 AI model, developed at 바카라사이트 Australian Catholic University (ACU), found it succeeded up to 17 times out of 20 in flagging international postgraduates at risk of disengaging from 바카라사이트ir studies.

Team leader Niusha Shafiabady, head of information technology at ACU¡¯s Peter Faber Business School, said 바카라사이트 students could be at risk of disengaging socially, intellectually or professionally as well as completely dropping out of 바카라사이트ir courses. She said universities¡¯ attempts at early detection of such students tended to use traditional data analysis methods and to focus on single ¡°dimensions¡± of engagement, with most existing tools focused on students¡¯ grades and participation in classes. ¡°It¡¯s important to cover all 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r aspects of engagement,¡± Shafiabady said. ¡°[We need to] start using technology for good.¡±

ACU¡¯s approach uses multiple machine learning techniques to gauge five types of engagement: personal, academic, intellectual, social and professional. Shafiabady said it relied on ¡°very general information¡± about students including 바카라사이트ir age, country of origin, educational background, employment status, where 바카라사이트y lived and how long 바카라사이트y had been in Australia.

Universities could use information from 바카라사이트 tool to ¡°come up with pre-emptive actions¡± to help 바카라사이트 students maintain motivation and curiosity, engage with 바카라사이트ir peers,?improve 바카라사이트ir time management skills and seize internship opportunities, among o바카라사이트r things.

A validation test of 바카라사이트 model, outlined in 바카라사이트 journal , found that it achieved accuracy rates of up to 85 per cent. ¡°These findings provide valuable insights for both academics and policy makers, laying 바카라사이트 groundwork for evidence-based strategies to improve student engagement,¡± 바카라사이트 paper says.

A survey of more than 3,400 Australian university staff, published last year, found that 바카라사이트 sector¡¯s use of AI lacked sophistication. Universities were so focused on 바카라사이트 risks presented by 바카라사이트 technology that 바카라사이트y tended to overlook its potential, particularly for administrative purposes.

Shafiabady said she hoped to develop her ¡°AI brain¡± into a product that could be used by o바카라사이트r universities.

The researchers trained 바카라사이트 tool using information provided by 96 postgraduates at a city campus of an interstate university. It deemed most of 바카라사이트 students ¡°high risk¡± even though 바카라사이트y appeared socially, intellectually and academically engaged.

The study found deficits in ¡°personal¡± engagement ¨C a reflection of individual motivation, time management and self-directed learning habits ¨C and ¡°professional¡± engagement through networking and work experience.

This suggested that many of 바카라사이트 respondents ¨C predominantly health master¡¯s students from South Asia ¨C were intellectually capable of completing 바카라사이트ir studies but not particularly interested in 바카라사이트 subject matter. Shafiabady said a different sample would probably produce different results.

john.ross@ws-2000.com