Open AccessVisualizations of User Data in a Social Media Enhanced Web-based Environment in Higher Education
Author(s) -
Kirsi Silius,
Anne-Maritta Tervakari,
Meri Kailanto
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
international journal of emerging technologies in learning/international journal: emerging technologies in learning
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.454
H-Index - 24
eISSN - 1868-8799
pISSN - 1863-0383
DOI - 10.3991/ijet.v8is2.2740
Subject(s) - computer science , learning analytics , world wide web , social media , context (archaeology) , visualization , analytics , multimedia , data science , paleontology , artificial intelligence , biology
In this article, we introduce the results of a study concerning user data visualizations in the context of the TUT Circle, a social media enhanced web service for learning, networking, and communication at the Tampere University of Technology (TUT). Well-designed visualizations can provide valuable insight into student activity and participation in an online course, and therefore support both teachersâ?? and studentsâ?? strategic decision making. We found social network analytics and visualizations useful in providing information to improve the pedagogical practices of online courses, as well as the studentsâ?? overall engagement in their studies and study lives. However, to be useful, the visualizations need to have enough hints so that the users can interpret the different elements in them in the right way.