Behaviour & Information Technology

ISSN: 0144-929X (Print) 1362-3001 (Online) Journal homepage: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/tbit20

Advanced decision-making in higher education:

learning analytics research and key performance
indicators

Miltiadis D. Lytras, Naif Radi Aljohani, Anna Visvizi, Patricia Ordonez De

Pablos & Dragan Gasevic

To cite this article: Miltiadis D. Lytras, Naif Radi Aljohani, Anna Visvizi, Patricia Ordonez De
Pablos & Dragan Gasevic (2018) Advanced decision-making in higher education: learning analytics
research and key performance indicators, Behaviour & Information Technology, 37:10-11, 937-940,
DOI: 10.1080/0144929X.2018.1512940

To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.1080/0144929X.2018.1512940

Published online: 20 Oct 2018.

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BEHAVIOUR & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
2018, VOL. 37, NOS. 10–11, 937–940
https://doi.org/10.1080/0144929X.2018.1512940
EDITORIAL
Advanced decision-making in higher education: learning analytics research and
key performance indicators
In our days, the interaction of Behaviour and Infor-
mation Technology is challenged by emerging technol-
ogies, including cognitive computing and business
intelligence. The learning domain has many features
that query the added value of the adoption of these tech-
nologies. Using the well-defined scientific and appli-
cation domain described as Information Technology,
we focus on some of the most evolutionary technologies
of the last years, namely Learning Analytics and Cogni-
tive Computing. These technologies and methodologies
are the main focus of this special issue, which aims to fos-
ter a scientific debate for the new era of Higher Edu-
cation. In this new scenario, academic institutions
would have to develop strategies for the adoption of tech-
nologies in the daily educational process beyond current
limitations and barriers, promoting advanced decision-
making capabilities.
Learning Analytics and applications have received
growing attention in recent years from various per-
spectives (Lytras, Raghavan, and Damiani 2017; Lytras
et al. 2018a, 2018b, 2018c; Zhang et al. 2018). The
thriving numbers of Big Data creation in Higher Edu-
cation have captured the attention of Higher Edu-
cation, computer engineering, and business
researchers that, in the past years, have been trying
to decipher the phenomenon of Higher Education Per-
formance and Innovation (Visvizi, Lytras, and Daniela
2018), its relation to already-conducted research, and
its implications for new research opportunities that
affect innovations in teaching and higher education
dynamics. The purpose of the special issue is to
describe critically the state of the art of the literature
Learning Analytics and analyse how new, advanced
and educational models and the adoption strategies
can expand the sustainability frontiers in advanced
applied computer engineering and knowledge manage-
ment towards Smart Education and knowledge society
vision (Lytras, Damiani, and Mathkour 2016, 2015).
In Figure 1, we present a first interpretation of the
metaphors for learning Analytics that are discussed in
this special issue:
© 2018 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group
The open research agenda on learning
analytics for advanced decision-making in
higher education – overview of the published
papers
The interdisciplinary character of Learning Analytics
research requires a holistic approach. In the special
issue, we set the following research priorities as summar-
ised in Table 1.
This special issue received an outstanding number of
articles from all over the world. In total, 49 full papers
were submitted. After a rigorous double-blind review
process and the rejection of research papers with signifi-
cant merit due to the limitation of pages in the special
issue, finally we accepted 14 research papers that cover
most of the major issues of the research agenda stated
in the call for papers:
1. A Bibliometric Perspective of Learning Analytics
Research Landscape
2. Competence-based recommender systems: a sys-
tematic literature review
3. Advanced Decision-Making in Higher Education:
Learning Analytics Research and Key Performance
Indicators
4. Predicting students learning style using learning
Analytics: A case study of Business Management
Students from India
5. Learning Analytics to Identify Dropout Factors of
Computer Science Studies through Bayesian Networks
6. Tracking learning analytics precursors over serious
game team performance ranking
7. Analysing the predictive power for anticipating
assignment grades in a Massive Open Online Course
8. A Mixed Method Analysis of the Online Infor-
mation Course Withdrawal System
9. Student Interactions in Online Discussion Forums:
Their Perception of Learning with Business Simu-
lation Games
10. Promoting collaborative skills in online universities.
Comparing effects of games, mixed reality, social
938 EDITORIAL

Conclusions: theoretical and applied

contribution of the special issue the literature
of learning analytics
The collection of papers in this special issue contributes
to a deeper understanding of the complexities of the
enabling technologies of Learning Analytics. The special
issue envisions a new era of advanced decision-making
too. The published research in this special edition sets
the basis for an integrated framework for the adoption
of cognitive computing and artificial intelligence in
education:
Four value layers constitute a holistic transformative
mechanism for the design, operation and impact of
learning analytics ecosystems:

. Technology: In the era of big data and analytics, artifi-

cial intelligence and cloud services, the sophistication
of learning analytics systems is more complex. One
key challenge is to understand how the adoption of
emerging technologies can be optimised in an edu-
cational context.
(1) Normalised Fuzzy Index for Research Ranking
(2) A Mixed Method Analysis of the Online Infor-
mation Course Withdrawal System
Figure 1. Learning analytics metaphors as discussed in research (3) Promoting collaborative skills in online univer-
studies. sites. Comparing effects of games, mixed reality,
social media, and other tools for ICT-supported
media and other tools for ICT-supported pedagogi- pedagogical practices
cal practices (4) Barriers to the Adoption of Social Networking
11. Barriers to the Adoption of Social Networking Sites Sites in Saudi Arabia’s Higher Education
in Saudi Arabia’s Higher Education . Information integration: The aggregation of diverse
12. Normalised Fuzzy Index for Research Ranking types of data within academic institutions is another
13. System of Information Systems to Support Learners challenge. The data workflow, the dynamic annota-
14. Big Data and Sentiment Analysis to highlight tion of content, as well as the management of micro-
decision behaviours: a case study for the student contents over social networks requires strategies and
population methodologies.

Table 1. An open research agenda for learning analytics and advanced decision-making in higher education.
. Analytics Studies and Key Performance Indicators in Higher Education . Intelligent Student Progress Dashboard
. Advanced Machine Learning Approaches for Personalised Learning Systems . Predictive Analytics Reporting (PAR) Framework, Learning,
. Learning Cloud Analytics Research and Transfer
. Analysis of Big Data and Educational Knowledge Management . Analytics, Business Intelligence, and Data Management for
. The Internet of Everything (IoE) for Campus-wide analytics Infrastructure Higher Education
. Scientometrics and Library Analytics . Data-driven Evidence of Effective Blended Learning
. Innovations for Improving Student Retention through Predictive Modelling . Stimulated Social Activities and Critical Thinking within an
. Innovative Solutions for Student-retention Models, KPIs, Data dashboards, and Mobile Online Environment
Alerts to Identify At-risk Students . Emerging Challenges of Higher Education – The Sustainable
. Case Studies of Ethical Use of Student Data for Learning Analytics Education
. Novel approaches to Analyse Individual Student Interactions in Online Learning Activities . Advanced Analytics for Higher Education
. Integrating Analytics with Online Texts, Courseware, and Learning . Strategies for Innovative TEL
. Case Studies of Personalised Learning Using Analytics . TEL and Innovations in Higher Education Institutions
. Visual Analytics to Identify Patterns and Processes for Mining Large Educational Datasets . Learning Analytics for advanced learning experience
. Data Mining in MOOCs
. Best Practices for TEL Research
. Large Scale MOOCs Implementations

(1) Big Data and Sentiment Analysis to highlight
decision behaviours: a case study for the student
population
(2) The system of Information Systems to Support
Learners
(3) Student Interactions in Online Discussion For-
ums: Their Perception of Learning with Business
Simulation Games
. Learning analytics and key performance indicators:
An integrated ecosystem of analytics, targeting the
understanding of learners’ behaviour and the
enhancement of advanced decision-making in edu-
cation is one more challenge. Within this context
advanced data-mining capabilities, techniques related
to social networks analysis and sentiment analysis
promote the strategic integration and impact of learn-
ing analytics. The papers included in the special issue
related to this layer are:
(1) Advanced Decision-Making in Higher Education:
Learning Analytics Research and Key Perform-
ance Indicators
(2) Predicting students learning style using learning
Analytics: A case study of Business Management
Students from India
(3) Learning Analytics to Identify Dropout Factors of
Computer Science Studies through Bayesian
Networks
(4) Tracking learning analytics precursors over
serious game team performance ranking
(5) Analysing the predictive power for anticipating
assignment grades in a Massive Open Online
Course
Figure 2. The integrated framework for cognitive computing-enabled learning analytics.
BEHAVIOUR & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 939
(6) A Bibliometric Perspective of Learning Analytics
Research Landscape
(7) Competence-based recommender systems: a sys-
tematic literature review
. Interface: The success of the learning analytics eco-
system is based on the efficiency and completeness
of the interface. The interface should provide drill
down analysis to reporting and justification and
advanced cognitive computing capabilities, permit
advanced personalisation and customisation. A new
era of learning analytics dashboard for all the different
media platforms is required.
In Figure 2, we propose a framework for a holistic
approach towards the design, implementation and
monitoring of Learning Analytics strategies in
education.
We are very happy with the outcome of this special
issue. The intellectual work and the top-quality research
of contributors is clear in all papers of this valuable col-
lection. We are also enthusiastic about the warm recep-
tion of our approach.
It is our firm belief that Education will be an impor-
tant solution to the multidimensional crisis and chal-
lenges of our times and our societies (Lytras et al.
2018c). We hope that emerging technologies will pro-
mote this objective and will help the global community
to enjoy better Learning as well as more qualitative and
human-centric Education. This is a challenge and oppor-
tunity for all of us. We owe it to the current young
generation.
940 EDITORIAL
Acknowledgements
We are obliged to the Editor-in-Chief, Professor Panos
Makropoulos for his thorough supervision during the
preparation of our special issue and for his new vision
for BIT.
We want to thank also all the staff in Taylor and Francis, for
their integrated efforts to deliver this special issue, meeting the
highest quality standards.
Our warmest compliments and thank you to our contribu-
tors. The final deliverable is a top-quality intellectual work for
them. We served as facilitators and integrators of their
wisdom.
Finally we want to thank the more than 70 reviewers who
offered on a volunteer basis their expertise and time and
their constructive comments.
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Lytras, M. D., N. R. Aljohani, A. Hussain, J. Luo, and J. X.
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012
Miltiadis D. Lytras
Research Professor Deree College – The American College
of Greece, Athens, Greece
Distinguished Scientist, King Abdulaziz University,
Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
mlytras@acg.edu
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7281-5458
Naif Radi Aljohani
King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia
nraljohani@kau.edu.sa
Anna Visvizi
Associate Professor, Deree College – The American College
of Greece, Athens, Greece
Visiting Professor, Effat College of Business,
Effat University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
avisvizi@acg.edu
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3240-3771
Patricia Ordonez De Pablos
Faculty of Economics and Business, The University of
Oviedo, Oviedo-Asturias, Spain
patriop@uniovi.es
Dragan Gasevic
Professor, Faculty of Education, Monash University, VIC,
Australia
dragan.gasevic@monash.edu
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9265-1908