PreprintCited by 15Online Learning and AnalyticsIntelligent Tutoring Systems and Adaptive LearningEducational Technology and Pedagogy

The evidence of impact and ethical considerations of Multimodal Learning Analytics: A Systematic Literature Review

Alwahaby, Haifa, Cukurova, Mutlu, Papamitsiou, Zacharoula, Giannakos, Michail·2021

Abstract

There is a growing interest in the research and use of multimodal data in learning analytics. This paper presents a systematic literature review of multimodal learning analytics (MMLA) research to assess i) the available evidence of impact on learning outcomes in real-world contexts and ii) explore the extent to which ethical considerations are addressed. A few recent literature reviews argue for the promising value of multimodal data in learning analytics research. However, our understanding of the challenges associated with MMLA research from real-world teaching and learning environments is limited. To address this gap, this paper provides an overview of the evidence of impact and ethical considerations stemming from an analysis of the relevant MMLA research published in the last decade. The search of the literature resulted in 663 papers, of which 100 were included in the final synthesis. The results show that the evidence of real-world impact on learning outcomes is weak, and ethical aspects of MMLA work are rarely addressed. We discuss our results through the lenses of two theoretical frameworks for evidence of impact types and ethical dimensions of MMLA. We conclude that for MMLA to stay relevant and become part of mainstream education, future research should directly address the gaps identified in this review.

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Authors
Alwahaby, H., Cukurova, M., Papamitsiou, Z., & Giannakos, M.
Affiliations
  • University College London (GB)
  • Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NO)
Published
2021-08-23
OpenAlex
W4213071674
Cited by
15
References
98
Citations by year
2025: 1 · 2024: 5 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 1
Type
posted content
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • UCL Discovery (University College London) (submittedVersion)
  • EdArXiv (OSF Preprints) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Computer Science Applications › Online Learning and Analytics
  • Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Artificial Intelligence › Intelligent Tutoring Systems and Adaptive Learning
  • Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Artificial Intelligence › Educational Technology and Pedagogy
Keywords
multimodal learning analytics, multimodal data, learning outcomes, impact evidence, ethics of learning analytics, ethical considerations

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