A new year is just around the corner, which means brand new class rolls, with students you may have taught before and some who are entirely new to your classrooms. The first few weeks of a new term can be a frantic dash to try and learn new students' needs, abilities, and personalities. It's like piecing together a puzzle while simultaneously trying to teach, support, and nurture these young learners. Imagine having a crystal ball that could reveal insights about your students before they even step into the classroom. That's where learning analytics comes in – a powerful tool that transforms raw data into meaningful understanding.
What do learning analytics truly bring to our daily school life? School data coach and author, Dr Selena Fisk states that, "Data should be viewed as a way to support students to achieve their best and be used to celebrate with them when they make progress." Understanding and enhancing your students' learning experiences is an exciting opportunity for schools and teachers who want to plan for their incoming students ahead of time. Student data analytics can allow teachers to craft comprehensive road maps for each student, by understanding their academic successes, engagement in various subjects, social interactions, and unique learning styles.
When talking about gathering information about future students, we're looking at much more than just their previous school reports. Academic performance is essential, and the results of the NAPLAN and ATAR programs can tell us a lot, but there's so much more to consider. In her article published in Independent Education, Dr Fisk reminds us of common negative associations about the use of school data from the media, leading some to believe that it reduces students down to numbers, "If a teacher was only forming their perception of student data from ATAR and NAPLAN comparisons in the media, it is understandable how they might come to this conclusion."
"Students should always be front and centre of our data use. Student data should be used to reflect on the strengths and gaps of individual learners, small groups in our classrooms, trends across a whole class, and/or across cohorts."
- Dr Selena Fisk
Teachers and learning leaders should strive to understand how their incoming students learn best, what motivates them, what extra curricular activities light their fire, and where they might need additional support or extension. Taking a holistic approach to student data can help create an environment where each student can thrive from day one, rather than waiting weeks or months to understand their unique needs and capabilities.
Before term starts, you can build comprehensive student profiles by analysing several key data points. A Learning Analytics software solution, like TrackOne Studio, can do this heavy lifting for you with comprehensive Learner Profiles complete with historical data from academic results, pastoral care data, and more, depending on the scope of student data collected by your school.
The NSW Department of Education states that “Effective analysis of student data helps teachers identify areas where students’ learning needs may require additional attention and development”. Previous school reports often contain valuable information about learning patterns - not just grades, but teacher comments about engagement, participation, learning strategies, and more. These insights help identify which students might benefit from extension activities or additional support from day one.
It is important to consider a broad range of students' data to craft a clear profile. As outlined in The School Improvement Tool by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER); as well as academic data, teachers should also look at behaviour, attendance, retention, effort and wellbeing data from their schooling journey so far.
- image from Practice Insights Youth Engagement QLD Edu, via info from ACER
Historical learning data can reveal whether a student thrives in independent online learning or benefits more from collaborative tasks. Attendance patterns and participation records in extra curricular activities can indicate engagement levels and potential areas for building connections.
For example, knowing that an incoming student has consistently participated in debate club suggests strong verbal communication skills that could be leveraged in class discussions. Understanding that another student has a history of anxiety around mathematical problem-solving allows you to implement supportive strategies from the start.
One of the most powerful applications of learning analytics is in early intervention planning. By analysing historical support data, teachers can identify which students might need learning support services or extension programs before the term begins. This means support structures can be in place from day one, rather than waiting weeks or months for these needs to become apparent.
For instance, if data indicates a student has previously received support for dyslexia, schools can ensure appropriate accommodations are ready in all subjects. Similarly, suppose analytics reveal a student has consistently performed above year level in science. In that case, teachers can decide to prepare extension activities and arrange connections with like-minded peers or mentoring opportunities.
If you are new to using learning analytics in the classroom, the practical implementation might sound daunting, but it doesn't have to be. Start by thinking about what information would make the biggest difference to you or your teachers in those crucial first weeks. For most schools, this includes previous academic performance, learning support requirements, social-emotional considerations, and learning preferences. The key is to review this information systematically and transform it into actionable insights that you can use in daily planning and interactions with students.
Creating a culture that values data-informed decision-making doesn't happen overnight. It requires leadership commitment, staff buy-in, and a clear vision of how learning analytics can support your school's educational goals. Encouraging collaboration between teachers, learning support staff, and school leaders will ensure that insights are shared and used effectively. Regular opportunities for staff to discuss and reflect on the data help build confidence and competence in using analytics to support student learning.
Learning analytics isn't just another educational buzzword. When implemented thoughtfully, it's a powerful tool that helps educators and school leaders create more personalised, effective learning environments. It allows staff to hit the ground running at the start of each school year, with a clear understanding of how to support each student's learning journey. In today's educational landscape, that kind of preparation isn't just helpful - it's essential for ensuring that every student has the opportunity to succeed from their very first day at school.