Human behavior and interaction have always been a topic of discussion and research. It’s fascinating what data analysis can do. And how we can improve the way things work around us based on the data we collect. And with the big data industry projected to be worth nearly 28 million USD in the next two years, it’s about time that the education sector jumped into the bandwagon. Because the bare truth of the matter is that the benefits of gathering and analyzing data are many.
And the first step to setting up a functional data analysis process – in any sector, including education, is to create a community website. Why? Well, recent researches show that 93% of students search for information online rather than go to the library. With search engine giants like Google making access to large databases of information possible, it’s no surprise that a student would look up a prospective educational institution on the internet. So, instead of redirecting students to other sources, it’s much more efficient to use your own digital platform to not only showcase your institution, but also educate students.
The question – “Do we need an online presence?” is not relevant anymore. You need to ask yourself more substantial questions like “How you can optimize the data you have to improve the educational services that you are offering?” Here are 3 smart ways you can use data to improve the education sector:
1. Improve student performance
The purpose of leveraging big data is to improve the student results. Instead of using traditional methods like assignments and exams you can use data trails to have a better overview of the performance. With big data in the education sector, you can monitor activities such as how long they take to answer a question, which sources they use for preparation and which questions they skip on the exam. The behavioral analysis will provide very substantial and unique feedback to each student.
2. Customize programs
Big data can help in creating individualized programs for students. These programs will provide the students the opportunity to achieve better results at their own pace. For instance, they will use offline and online sources. These types of blended learning experiences are amazing for improving performance and actively participating in the learning experience.
3. Prevent dropouts and learn from the results
Big data analysis will help you predict the future behavior of students and prevent dropouts. If you notice unusual learning behavior you can immediately react and adjust the prepared program. For instance, you can always increase interactive online learning tactics and avoid traditional methods if that was the core of the problem.
The access to big data will help you to analyze the performance of the students on the market and their success in finding a job. This will help future students in choosing the right program and course.
The technological advancements in the last couple of years transformed the process of usage of data. Nowadays, raw data can be processed and used as a learning material on which all of your future decisions will be based. You shouldn’t worry about how to create an educational website; many online builders provide simple website solutions that anyone can use. What you should worry about is how to implement processes that will provide better analysis and reporting.
