The Buzz around Learning Analytics – Enablers and Challenges Identified through the #VLEIreland Project

Increased availability of big datasets around learner activity with learning analytics (LA), offers universities great scope in data driven decisions around individual student learning, yet learning analytics in still in its infancy in Ireland. LA are used mostly to identify student retention and graduation rates, and less used to personalise learning to support students. This article presents an overview of the challenges to the use of learning analytics within institutions of higher education in Ireland. Using findings from the #VLEIreland Project on VLE usage the author examines the enablers and the challenges to the creation of large datasets on learning. With reference to current national initiatives, the article outlines how these initiatives can support the collection of datasets on learning, placing Irish institutions in a position to scale up implementation of learning analytics.