Tag Archives: data analytics
The mutating metric machinery of higher education
Ben Williamson Higher education increasingly depends on complex data systems to process and visualize performance metrics. Image by Dennis van Zuijlekom Contemporary culture is increasingly defined by metrics. Measures of quantitative assessment, evaluation, performance, and comparison infuse public services, commercial … Continue reading
Personalized precision education and intimate data analytics
Ben Williamson The word ‘precision’ has become a synonym for the application of data to the analysis and treatment of a wide range of phenomena. ‘Precision medicine’ describes the use of detailed patient information to individualize treatment and prevention based … Continue reading
Learning from psychographic personality profiling
Ben Williamson Contemporary education policy and practice is increasingly influenced by developments in data analytics. The big data analytics story of the year so far concerns the alleged ‘psychographic’ profiling techniques of data analytics firm Cambridge Analytica and its use … Continue reading
10 definitions of datafication (in education)
Ben Williamson What is datafication? And how does it affect education? These questions were put to me ahead of conference discussion panel recently. While writing a few notes, it quickly became apparent I needed some categories to sort out my thinking. … Continue reading
Learning machines
Ben Williamson When educators talk about theories of learning they are normally referring to psychological conceptions of human cognition and thinking. Current trends in machine learning, data analytics, deep learning, and artificial intelligence, however, complicate human-centred psychological accounts about learning. Today’s … Continue reading
Critical questions for big data in education
Ben Williamson Image: https://flic.kr/p/bnZvFX Big data has arrived in education. Educational data science, learning analytics, computer adaptive testing, assessment analytics, educational data mining, adaptive learning platforms, new cognitive systems for learning and even educational applications based on artificial intelligence are … Continue reading
Digital governance of education
Ben Williamson Image: Jorge Franganillo Over the last decade or so, researchers of education policy have focused much attention on the role of numerical data in the ways that schools, teachers, and whole education systems are governed and managed. Less … Continue reading