From Reflection to Action: A Controlled Field Study on How Learners Interpret and Respond to Feedback in Learning Analytics Dashboards

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Bibliographic Details
Title: From Reflection to Action: A Controlled Field Study on How Learners Interpret and Respond to Feedback in Learning Analytics Dashboards
Language: English
Authors: Tornike Giorgashvili (ORCID 0009-0004-9465-3949), Ioana Jivet (ORCID 0000-0002-8715-2642), Cordula Artelt (ORCID 0000-0001-7790-2502), Daniel Biedermann (ORCID 0000-0001-9219-222X), Daniel Bengs, Frank Goldhammer, Carolin Hahnel, Julia Mendzheritskaya, Julia Mordel, Monica Onofrei, Marc Winter, Ilka Wolter, Holger Horz (ORCID 0000-0002-5173-0252), Hendrik Drachsler
Source: Journal of Computer Assisted Learning. 2025 41(4).
Availability: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 15
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Field Studies, Student Reaction, Feedback (Response), Learning Analytics, Educational Technology, Scores, Study Habits, Learning Strategies, Metacognition, Behavior Change
DOI: 10.1111/jcal.70073
ISSN: 0266-4909
1365-2729
Abstract: Background: Learning analytics dashboards (LAD) have been developed as feedback tools to help students self-regulate their learning (SRL) by using the large amounts of data generated by online learning platforms. Despite extensive research on LAD design, there remains a gap in understanding how learners make sense of information visualised on LADs and how they self-reflect using these tools. Objectives: We address this gap through an experimental study where a LAD delivered personalised SRL feedback based on interactions and progress to a treatment group, and minimal feedback based on the average scores of the lecture to a control group. Methods: After receiving feedback, students were asked to write down how they planned to adjust their study habits. These reflection texts are the target of this study. Three human coders analysed 1251 self-reflection texts from 417 students at three different times, using a coding system that categorised learning strategies, metacognitive strategies and learning materials. Results and Conclusions: Our results show that learners who received personalised feedback intend to focus on different aspects of their learning in comparison to the learners who received minimal feedback and that the content of the LAD influences how students formulate their self-reflection texts. Furthermore, the extent to which students incorporated suggested behavioural changes into their reflections was predicted by state measures like perceived helpfulness of the feedback. Our findings outline areas where support is needed to improve learners' sense-making of feedback on LADs and self-reflection.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2025
Accession Number: EJ1478173
Database: ERIC
Description
Abstract:Background: Learning analytics dashboards (LAD) have been developed as feedback tools to help students self-regulate their learning (SRL) by using the large amounts of data generated by online learning platforms. Despite extensive research on LAD design, there remains a gap in understanding how learners make sense of information visualised on LADs and how they self-reflect using these tools. Objectives: We address this gap through an experimental study where a LAD delivered personalised SRL feedback based on interactions and progress to a treatment group, and minimal feedback based on the average scores of the lecture to a control group. Methods: After receiving feedback, students were asked to write down how they planned to adjust their study habits. These reflection texts are the target of this study. Three human coders analysed 1251 self-reflection texts from 417 students at three different times, using a coding system that categorised learning strategies, metacognitive strategies and learning materials. Results and Conclusions: Our results show that learners who received personalised feedback intend to focus on different aspects of their learning in comparison to the learners who received minimal feedback and that the content of the LAD influences how students formulate their self-reflection texts. Furthermore, the extent to which students incorporated suggested behavioural changes into their reflections was predicted by state measures like perceived helpfulness of the feedback. Our findings outline areas where support is needed to improve learners' sense-making of feedback on LADs and self-reflection.
ISSN:0266-4909
1365-2729
DOI:10.1111/jcal.70073