Improvement of learning outcomes in traditional learning model by introducing online activities and big data analytics

ABSTRACT

The main aim of this research was to improve a blended learning course, by adding specific online activity that will improve learning outcomes and enable producing, collecting and analysing educational data. Moodle LMS, a widely used, well-known learning environment, was used for realisation of the online activity. Data collected over LMS Moodle was analysed by using Big Data technologies to find out performances and check learning outcomes in the extended blended learning system. Over 600,000 records generated by students and teachers during the three schoolyears were collected as a part of this research. The total number of activities, type of activities and their correlation with the final grade on the course have been observed and analysed. Research results show, that by introducing only one mandatory activity – online discussion, the number of all activities and the number of aimed activities have been increased significantly. More frequent and numerous access to educational content increased the number of students who passed the final exam and increased the average grade. The research was conducted at the Academy of Technical and Art Applied Studies Belgrade, Department School of Electrical and Computer Engineering on the course Social Networks Analysis.

KEYWORDS:

• Blended learning
• online discussions
• LMS
• big data
• educational data

Disclosure statement

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

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Jelena Mitić

Jelena Mitić received her BS degree from the Faculty of Mathematics, University of Belgrade, MS degree in information systems from the Faculty of Organisational Sciences, University of Belgrade, and she is currently a PhD candidate at the same faculty. She is a lecturer at the Academy of Technical and Art Applied Studies Belgrade, Department School of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Her main research interests are educational data analysis, social networks analysis and big data analysis.

Slobodanka Djenić

Slobodanka Djenić received the BS and MS degrees in electronic engineering at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Belgrade, and the PhD in technical science at the Technical Faculty Cacak, University of Kragujevac. She is a lecturer at the Academy of Technical and Art Applied Studies Belgrade, Department School of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Her main research interests are in the development of blended learning systems for the learning of high programming languages.