Week Eight
How can data mining assist you in triangulating your research findings?
Definition: (noun) The practice of examining large databases in order to generate new information. (online dictionary)
Data mining in education is often referred to as EDM, Educational Data Mining. "Data mining is about extrapolating patterns and new knowledge from the data you’ve already collected" (Alton) A lot of companies use data mining to analyse marketing, retail, finances, and manufacturing. Also the government uses data mining to detect money laundering or fraud.
Increase use of technology has led to large amounts of data being stored. EDM is making it easier to analyze the data to help identify at risk students, increase graduation rates, assess institutional performance, optimized subject curriculum renewal and better understand students and the settings in which the learn. The hope is to improve teaching and learning within the educational system.
Our new learning management system has a data mining feature. We can look at data in many different ways through advanced sorting techniques. As a school we have used this feature a few times, it was one of three new technology initiatives we trained on in the fall, but I can see the potential as we continue to use (and enter new data) the program.
Below is a table for different data mining strategies. This was helpful for me when reading about data mining.
Our new learning management system has a data mining feature. We can look at data in many different ways through advanced sorting techniques. As a school we have used this feature a few times, it was one of three new technology initiatives we trained on in the fall, but I can see the potential as we continue to use (and enter new data) the program.
Below is a table for different data mining strategies. This was helpful for me when reading about data mining.
Some misuse of data mining include privacy, security and misusing or inaccurate information. It is extremely important when educators are looking at information that they respect the privacy of students. With the use of technology, it is easy to sort data to look at trends. Educators must keep in mind that as we sort, we can quickly break down the data and focus on a few students. The information that we learn must be kept confidential.
Update on Data Collection: Homework completion rates
- I've collected data for one week
- I had high absentee rates due to cheer and basketball regional competition
- This week is spring break = no students
- Next week is closed to teacher in-service
- Not sure what the rest of the year will look like
- We are all probably in the same place....curious about what to do moving forward?
Sources:
Advantages and Disadvantages of Data Mining. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.zentut.com/data-mining/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-data-mining/
Algarni, Abdulmohsen. (2016). Data Mining in Education. International Journal of Advanced Computer Science and Applications. 7. 10.14569/IJACSA.2016.070659. Advantages and Disadvantages of Data Mining. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.zentut.com/data-mining/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-data-mining/
Alton, L. (n.d.). The 7 Most Important Data Mining Techniques. Retrieved from https://www.datasciencecentral.com/profiles/blogs/the-7-most-important-data-mining-techniques
Wow, Keri, some really great information here. I was hoping to read at least one other blog before I started mine on Week 8. This helped me understand EDM and how we use it in our schools. I am now curious to go and research for myself and see what I can find. Whether we like it or not, data will always be a large component of what we do as teachers and how we shape our teaching. I know that our school we actually have a person whose job it is oversee and manage data. Kind of wild when you think about it. I have not been able to collect any data and doubt I will with our spring break getting move ahead and us not going back to actual school until who knows when. I think many of us are in the same boat. This is quite a wild time.
ReplyDeleteGood blog and information. There is so much out there. If nothing else, looking at a large amount of data should provide some idea of what variables might be found and how they might interact. It gives one a place to start research.
ReplyDeleteKeri, Your post explained what EDM better than the article I read. I believe our district does educational data mining because we sure generate a lot of data. I look at data all the time in my job and never thought about how much until now. I paint a picture of each of my student with educational data. We look at our school as a whole with data, from quarter to quarter, and year to year.
ReplyDeleteConfidentiality is a big one! With out groups being so small, we might find ourselves sharing too much about one or two students.
Great graphic
DeleteKeri,
DeleteI'm getting caught up. This was good information. I Agree that EDM can be helpful in changing the trajectory of the students academic path if used correctly. I'm curious to know what your school is using for a management system. Melissa