Cited by 108Online Learning and AnalyticsOnline and Blended LearningIntelligent Tutoring Systems and Adaptive Learning

Learning Analytics on Student Engagement to Enhance Students’ Learning Performance: A Systematic Review

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Johar, Nurul Atiqah, Kew, Si Na, Tasir, Zaidatun, Koh, Elizabeth·2023·Sustainability

Abstract

The study of learning analytics provides statistical analysis and extract insights from data, particularly in education. Various studies regarding student engagement in online learning have been conducted at tertiary institutions to verify its effects on students’ learning performance. However, there exists a knowledge gap whereby the types of student-engagement issues derived from learning analytics have not been collectively studied thus far. In order to bridge the knowledge gap, this paper engages a new systematic literature review (SLR) that analysed 42 articles using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). The existing research on student engagement in online learning does not extensively integrate the five types of online engagement proposed by Redmond et al., and the use of learning analytics on the subject matter is also limited. Thus, this review sheds light on the types of student engagement indicated by using learning analytics, hoping to enhance students’ learning performance in online learning. As revealed in the findings, some studies measured multifaceted engagement to enhance students’ learning performance, but they are limited in number. Thus, it is recommended that future research incorporate multifaceted engagement such as social, cognitive, collaborative, behavioural, and emotional engagement in online learning and utilise learning analytics to improve students’ learning performance. This review could serve as the basis for future research in online higher education.

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  • The unidimensional approach in LA research has been criticised for using easy-to-count engagement indicators rather than considering differences in indicator value and distinguishing meaningful from less meaningful ones.

    “While the unidimensional approach has potential, it has been criticised for using easy-to-count engagement indicators in LA research rather than considering differences in indicator value and distinguishing between meaningful and less meaningful ones (e.g., Johar et al., 2023).”

    From Unpacking student engagement in higher education learning analytics: a systematic review (2024) · cites this paper as Johar et al., 2023

    Section 5.1 says that studying multiple types of engagement can yield more comprehensive measures, and Section 6 highlights the value of multifaceted engagement. The paper also describes measuring behavioural engagement through the frequency of LMS activity (Section 2.1). It does not, however, criticise unidimensional research for choosing indicators because they are easy to count or for failing to distinguish more meaningful indicators from less meaningful ones; no page numbers are available in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.83)

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  • Calls have been made for future LA research to explore all dimensions of engagement beyond purely behavioural measures.

    “calls have been made for future LA research to explore all dimensions of engagement beyond purely behavioural measures (Johar et al., 2023).”
  • Reviews focused on LA's impact on student engagement have emphasised the need for studies that consider all dimensions of student engagement more robustly rather than focusing on one in isolation.

    “with Johar et al. (2023) emphasising the need for studies that consider all dimensions of student engagement more robustly rather than purely focusing on one in isolation, echoing calls from wider engagement literature (e.g., Henrie et al., 2015).”
  • Johar et al.'s review only focused on research published between 2011 and 2021 and was limited to online learning in higher education studies indexed in Scopus or within four publisher repositories.

    “However, that review only focused on research published between 2011 and 2021 and was limited to online learning in higher education studies indexed in Scopus or within four publisher repositories.”

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Research works printed but not linked: 7

  1. Joksimovic, S.; Kovanovic, V.; Gasevic, D.; Dawson, S.; Siemens, G. The History and State of Online Learning. In Preparing for the Digital University: A Review of the History and Current State of Distance, Blended, and Online Learning; Athabasca University: Athabasca, AB, Canada, 2015; pp. 93-132.
  2. Conduit, J.; Karpen, I.; Farrelly, F. Student Engagement: A Multiple Layer Phenomenon. In Making a Difference through Marketing; Springer: Singapore, 2016; pp. 229-245. ISBN 978-981-10-0462-9.
  3. Peña-Ayala, A., Ed.; Studies in Systems, Decision and Control; Springer International Publishing: Cham, Switzerland, 2017; Volume 94, pp. 1-23. ISBN 978-3-319-52976-9.
  4. Diraditsile, K.; Samakabadi, G.G. The Effect of Social Media on Student Engagement And Collaboration: The Use of Facebook at The University of Botswana. JoLT 2018, 9, 15.
  5. Salomone, J.J. Student Engagement in Online Learning: Understanding and Defining the Infusion of the Social and Academic Shared Experiences. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Drexel, Philadelphia, PA, USA, 2016.
  6. Banoor, R.Y.; Issack, S.M.; Frank, R. The Use of Learning Analytics to Improve Online Learning Outcomes: A Systematic Literature Review; Commonwealth of Learning: Burnaby, Canada, 2019; p. 11.
  7. Pardo, A.; Bartimote, K.; Buckingham Shum, S.; Dawson, S.; Gao, J.; Gašević, D.; Leichtweis, S.; Liu, D.; Martínez-Maldonado, R.; Mirriahi, N.; et al. OnTask: Delivering data-informed, personalized learning support actions. J. Learn. Anal. 2018, 5, 235-249.

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Authors
Johar, N. A., Kew, S. N., Tasir, Z., & Koh, E.
Affiliations
  • University of Technology Malaysia (MY)
  • Nanyang Technological University (SG)
Corresponding author
Kew, Si Na
Venue
Sustainability
Publisher
MDPI AG
Published
2023-05-10
Volume
15
Issue
10
Pages
7849
ISSN
2071-1050 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W4376137941
Cited by
108
References
84
Citations by year
2026: 48 · 2025: 28 · 2024: 26 · 2023: 6
FWCI
4.57
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Sustainability (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
  • NIE Digital Repository (National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Malaysian Ministry of Higher Education (Q.J130000.3853.19J71)
  • Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) (Q.J130000.3853.19J71)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Computer Science Applications › Online Learning and Analytics
  • Social Sciences › Education › Online and Blended Learning
  • Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Artificial Intelligence › Intelligent Tutoring Systems and Adaptive Learning
Keywords
learning analytics, student engagement, online learning, learning performance, social engagement, cognitive engagement, collaborative engagement, behavioral engagement, emotional engagement, higher education

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