“What is learning analytics anyway?” I’ve answered this question a lot since starting my PhD 5 weeks ago, with varying degrees of eloquence. My go-to definition when writing assignments for my MA was: “LEARNING ANALYTICS is the measurement, collection, analysis and reporting of data about learners and their contexts, for purposes of understanding and optimising learningContinue reading “Getting started with Learning Analytics: a Literature Review”
Author Archives: sarahjalcock
Learning new habits… reading online
I love books. I love the feel of a new book in my hands, I love the tactile experience of flicking through the pages to get a sense of the information or story to come. In the secret moments of hope during my PhD application phase, I imagined a montage of me merrily typing awayContinue reading “Learning new habits… reading online”
PhD – week 1
The first week of my PhD has certainly been a whirlwind, with a hugely positive experience getting started at The Open University happening alongside some very stressful work events. The good I was able to go to the OU Campus in Milton Keynes for the Graduate School Induction on 5 October, followed by the onlineContinue reading “PhD – week 1”
Information is not enough
It was this realisation that helped me focus my research interests for my MA from the wide field of learning analytics, to Learning Analytic Dashboards (LAD). Over the years at Training-by-Eos, the accountancy tuition company I co-founded to teach the ICAEW Case Study exam, we developed pages of information to answer the question “Why didContinue reading “Information is not enough”
Impostor Syndrome
Impostor Syndrome is something I live with every day. I have spent 20 years working with ACA students, first in the professional body they hope to qualify with, and then as part of the tuition company I co-founded to help them pass the final exam. I have extensive experience of the Case Study exam theyContinue reading “Impostor Syndrome”
FutureLearn – an innovation in MOOCs
An essay originally written for the examinable component of a (now defunct) Masters course, I evaluate the FutureLearn platform and its role in delivering Massive Open Online Courses. Whilst the essay structure was dictated by the course requirements and not necessarily one I would use now, I find it still to be a useful analysisContinue reading “FutureLearn – an innovation in MOOCs”
Joe Wicks “The Body Coach”: A Masterclass in Innovative and Commercial Open Education Practice
Further content from my Masters degree, this time an open education project. I created a website for commercial education managers who are sceptical about the growing academic movement to Open Education. The ideal of knowledge and resource sharing in academia, from birth to Higher Education, is an admirable and well supported goal funded by governmentContinue reading “Joe Wicks “The Body Coach”: A Masterclass in Innovative and Commercial Open Education Practice”
About me
I left the traditional university I was pushed to go to by my school after 3 short months, and began working at the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales in Milton Keynes, UK. Starting as Chief Photocopier of the Marking Keys (or admin assistant, as they insisted I use on my email footer),Continue reading “About me”
Sarah Alcock 