The Learning Analytics Knowledge (LAK) conference is one of the premier research forums in Learning Analytics. Created by the Society of Learning Analytics Research (SoLAR), it is an open and welcoming space, offering researchers and practitioners alike an opportunity to showcase their work and exchange ideas. SoLAR is an open research community, with conference papersContinue reading “LAK23”
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Knowing when to pause – a reflection
Mental health and well being awareness is becoming pervasive, and academia is no exception. I am writing this blog at 3.30pm, and I’ve just had a bath. A deep bubble bath, in which I read a few chapters of a gothic horror novel (Bone China if you’re interested). In the middle of the day, onContinue reading “Knowing when to pause – a reflection”
CALRG 2022 Conference Presentation
Conferences, poster sessions, mini-vivas… oh my! It’s been a busy few months. I’ve written and talked about my research, a lot. I’ve loved it. My most recent conference presentation was at The Open University’s Computer and Learning Research Group 2022 Conference. It was a great opportunity to share my research plans and as it wasContinue reading “CALRG 2022 Conference Presentation”
Reflecting on reading
The time has come to start writing my first literature review as a PhD researcher. That means all this reading I’ve been doing needs to be critically evaluated, on paper, for someone else. If I do it well enough, I get to continue with my studies. It also means I’m reading my notes from theContinue reading “Reflecting on reading”
(nearly) 3 months in… a short reflection
I feel like I’ve been a PhD student forever, and at the same time I know I have barely started. The pile of reading is certainly not getting any smaller; I have to remind myself daily that it won’t for some time – and that is fine. That is the point. I have 10 yearsContinue reading “(nearly) 3 months in… a short reflection”
Getting started with Learning Analytics: a Literature Review
“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”
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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”
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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”
Sarah Alcock 