Evaluating geovisualization for spatial learning analytics

ABSTRACT

Contemporary systems for supporting digital learning are capable of collecting a wide range of data on learner behaviours. The emerging science and technology of learning analytics seeks to use this information to improve learning outcomes and support institutional assessment. In this work we explore the potential for the spatial dimension in learning analytics, and we evaluate a prototype geovisualization system designed to support what we call spatial learning analytics. A user evaluation with geographers and educators was conducted to characterize the usability and utility of our prototype spatial learning analytics system. By helping us understand what our prototype system does and does not do well, we are able to suggest a variety of new ways in which future spatial learning analytics systems can be developed.

RÉSUMÉ

Les systèmes actuels utilisés pour faciliter l'apprentissage numérique sont capables de collecter un très grand nombre de données sur le comportement des apprenants. Les sciences et techniques émergentes en analyse de l'apprentissage cherchent à utiliser ces informations pour améliorer les résultats d'apprentissage et pour aider l'évaluation institutionnelle. Dans ce travail nous explorons le potentiel de la dimension spatiale dans l'analyse de l'apprentissage et nous évaluons un prototype de système de géovisualisation conçu pour faciliter ce que nous appelons l'analyse spatiale d'apprentissage Une évaluation des utilisateurs par des géographes et des éducateurs a été menée pour caractériser l'utilisabilité et l'utilité de notre prototype de système d'analyse spatial d'apprentissage. En nous aidant à comprendre ce que notre système fait correctement et ce qu'il ne fait pas correctement, nous sommes capable de proposer une variété de nouvelles façons qui pourront être intégrées dans le développement de futurs systèmes d'analyse spatial d'apprentissage.

KEYWORDS:

• Geovisualization
• learning analytics
• user evaluation

Acknowledgements

We wish to thank Scott Pezanowski at the GeoVISTA Center for providing technical assistance to support the implementation of the MapSieve prototype.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes on contributors

Dr. Anthony C. Robinson is Associate Professor, Director for Online Geospatial Education programmes and Assistant Director for the GeoVISTA research centre in the Department of Geography at Penn State University. Dr Robinson’s research focuses on the science of interface and interaction design for geographic visualization. He currently serves as the Co-Chair of the Commission on Visual Analytics for the International Cartographic Association.

Cary L. Anderson, M.S. Cary is a doctoral candidate in Marketing in the Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business at the University of Pittsburgh. Her research focuses on the influence of seemingly-incidental design factors in maps and other visual graphics on user cognition, emotion, and behaviour.

Dr. Sterling D. Quinn is Assistant Professor and GIS Program Director in the Department of Geography at Central Washington University. His research interests include crowdsourced geographic data, free and open source GIS, and the politics of online maps.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported in part by a Research Initiation Grant from the Center for Online Innovation in Learning at Penn State University.