How should I use New Analytics?

Like all learning analytics tools, New Analytics can give instructors insight into their course and allow them to ask and answer certain questions. For example, comparing different sections to the course average on an assignment can reveal differences at the section level. Noting one section is doing significantly better or worse than other sections on a specific type of assignment could prompt an instructor to try and understand why. Comparing individual students to course or section averages also allows instructors to quickly see if a student might be struggling with certain concepts or assignments, prompting the instructor to seek more feedback or even follow up with the student.

It is important to note that while New Analytics can reveal certain patterns and comparisons, it does not and cannot provide an explanation for those patterns and comparisons. Instructors should never use a single data point from a Learning Analytics tool to take any major action in regards to a student or course. Learning Analytics tools, like New Analytics, are simply meant to help provide instructors with additional information and the ability to parse that information to a certain extent. Data from Learning Analytics tools can be one factor that helps guide instructor decisions and actions but should never solely dictate them.

Course Grade

Course Grade is the first feature available within New Analytics. Course Grade allows instructors to view the average course grade for all course data using an interactive chart or table. Additionally, instructors can filter analytics results to compare the average course grade with a specific section, student, or assignment.

The analytics page is dynamic and can show various filtered content; however, a maximum of three filters can be applied at once. The tabs above the chart show the filters you have selected, making it easy to switch among the different filters.

View of Analytics page with filters applied

Detailed Metrics

If you want to dive into a specific point and see details, just click on any of the data points. A summary card will pop up and show detailed metrics for the assignment.

Pop-up summary card showing detailed metrics for an assignment

You can also view the data as a data table by percentage instead of a chart by clicking the Data Table option within the Chart Options menu.

Data shown as percentages by selecting Data Table option

Under the data tables you have a second table called the Student Table. This displays all students within the filters you chose. The table is sorted alphabetically by last name by default; however, you can sort any column by clicking on the header. Also, by default the student table only lists five students at a time, but you can click the preferred number of students to display per page in the top right-hand corner of the table. The table will display the student's

name;
overall course grade;
overall percentage of on-time assignment submissions;
last interaction time;
last activity time.

Student Table in New Analytics

Message Students Who

You can also message students through analytics. This will allow you to select students whose grades or submissions fall within specific criteria. For example, you can message all students who have grades below a certain percentage, or all students who have failed a quiz. The selection criteria can be applied to students' performance on all assignments or a single assignment. The student selection is based on student scores and submission status. All students can be messaged at one time. To message students:

Click on the Send Message link.
Select the criteria tab by which you want to select students. Note: If you select Score Range, you must enter a minimum and maximum percentage.
Select the sections or students you want to blind carbon copy.
Type your message.
Click Send.

Interface for messaging students in New Analytics