The effects of a learning analytics empowered technology on students' arithmetic skill development

Abstract

Learning analytics empowered educational technologies (LA-ET) in primary classrooms allow for blended learning scenarios with teacher-lead instructions, class-paced and individually-paced practice. This quasi-experimental study investigates the effects of a LA-ET on the development of students' arithmetic skills over one schoolyear. Children learning in a traditional paper & pencil condition were compared to learners using a LA-ET on tablet computers in grade 4. The educational technology combined teacher dashboards (extracted analytics) and class and individually paced assignments (embedded analytics). The results indicated that children in the LA-ET condition made significantly more progress on arithmetic skills in one schoolyear compared to children in the paper & pencil condition.