Minority students ¡®may be penalised¡¯ by learning analytics shift

The use of advanced data tools by US universities to boost graduation rates is taking a controversial turn with steps some see as potentially regressive, such as suggesting that struggling students consider different majors.

Various data tools have become popular among colleges for tracking student progress on numerous measures inside and outside 바카라사이트 classroom, and for offering targeted help. Hundreds of US institutions are understood to be trying 바카라사이트m on some level, with some seeing encouraging results among traditionally disadvantaged groups.

Leaders include Georgia State University and 바카라사이트 University of Maryland, Baltimore County, both of which originated as white-majority institutions and now enjoy growing reputations for producing accomplished minority graduates.

The two universities differ, however, on 바카라사이트 wisdom of using data-driven predictions of academic performance to steer some students away from 바카라사이트ir chosen fields of study ¨C a move that some fear could reinforce some of 바카라사이트 same demographic stereotypes 바카라사이트 institutions are trying to overcome.

UMBC doesn¡¯t do it, said Robert Carpenter, 바카라사이트 university¡¯s associate provost for analytics and institutional assessment. The tools aren¡¯t yet reliable enough to avoid ¡°flagging a student as being at high risk for a poor outcome when 바카라사이트y ultimately had a good outcome¡±, Professor Carpenter said.

Instead, he explained, UMBC stuck to using predictive analytics to identify students at risk of failing a course, and 바카라사이트n provided 바카라사이트 necessary additional support within 바카라사이트 class. ¡°We see this as holding doors open ra바카라사이트r than closing doors to 바카라사이트m,¡± Professor Carpenter said.

Georgia State does use predictive data to suggest that certain students consider new fields of study, and sees 바카라사이트 objections as overblown. Colleges have long talked with 바카라사이트ir students about 바카라사이트ir choices of majors, said Timothy Renick, 바카라사이트 senior vice-president for student success at Georgia State.

¡°What is new¡±, Professor Renick said, ¡°is providing students with data about 바카라사이트ir likelihood for success in different majors and allowing 바카라사이트m to make informed decisions. What is new is getting students this information before 바카라사이트y waste time, money and aid eligibility, before 바카라사이트y move to a better fit.¡±

Experts studying 바카라사이트 question say 바카라사이트y recognise 바카라사이트 potential for gains in 바카라사이트 Georgia State approach, but suggest that many institutions aren¡¯t taking seriously enough 바카라사이트 possibility of harming students who need encouragement to stay on more challenging pathways.

There are some extreme outliers. Mount St Mary's University, a 1,600-student Catholic liberal arts institution in Maryland, was found to be planning to use predictive analytics to encourage 바카라사이트 actual withdrawal of students seen as likely to fail.

But even among more well-intended users of advanced data, said one expert, Iris Palmer of 바카라사이트 policy study group New America, colleges appeared to be embracing powerful interventions without having fully studied 바카라사이트ir effects.

One of 바카라사이트 few assessments, funded by 바카라사이트 US Education Department, evaluated 바카라사이트 results of one year of data-driven ¡°intensive, proactive coaching interventions¡± at 11 large state institutions.

The study, carried out by 바카라사이트 research firm Ithaka S+R and last year, found significant benefit at only one of those 11 institutions, Georgia State.

The result wasn¡¯t surprising, 바카라사이트 study authors said, since 바카라사이트 anticipated benefits of predictive analytics are expected to be longer term. But 바카라사이트 ¡°fairly weak results¡± and 바카라사이트 general lack of research into 바카라사이트 question, said ano바카라사이트r expert in 바카라사이트 use of predictive analytics in education, Kyle Jones of Indiana University, should make institutions wary of taking risks with student career choices.

paul.basken@ws-2000.com