Predictive Learning Analytics and University Teachers: Usage and perceptions three years post implementation

Abstract

Predictive learning analytics (PLA) dashboards have been used by teachers to identify students at risk of failing their studies and provide proactive support. Yet, very few of them have been deployed at a large scale or had their use studied at a mature level of implementation. In this study, we surveyed 366 distance learning university teachers across four faculties three years after PLA has been made available across university as business as usual. Informed by the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT), we present a context-specific version of UTAUT that reflects teachers' perceptions of PLA in distance learning higher education. The adoption and use of PLA was shown to be positively influenced by less experience in teaching, performance expectancy, self-efficacy, positive attitudes, and low anxiety, while negatively influenced by a lack of facilitating conditions and low effort expectancy, indicating that the type of technology and context within which it is used are significant factors determining our understanding of technology usage and adoption. This study provides significant insights as to how to design, apply and implement PLA with teachers in higher education.

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