Critical Data Studies, Abstraction & Learning Analytics

Editorial to Selwyn’s LAK keynote and invited commentaries

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18608/jla.2019.63.2

Keywords:

Critical Data Studies, Sociotechnical Systems, Politics, Ethics, Abstraction, Formalisation

Abstract

This editorial introduces a special section of the Journal of Learning Analytics, for which Neil Selwyn’s keynote address to LAK ’18 has been written up as an article, “What’s the problem with learning analytics?” His claims and arguments are engaged in commentaries from Alfred Essa, Rebecca Ferguson, Paul Prinsloo, and Carolyn Rosé, who provide diverse perspectives on Selwyn’s proposals and arguments, from applause to refutation. Reflecting on the debate, I note some of the tensions to be resolved for learning analytics and social science critiques to engage productively, observing that central to the debate is how we understand the role of abstraction in the analysis of data about teaching and learning, and hence the opportunities and risks this entails.

 

References

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Published

2019-12-13

How to Cite

Buckingham Shum, S. (2019). Critical Data Studies, Abstraction & Learning Analytics: Editorial to Selwyn’s LAK keynote and invited commentaries. Journal of Learning Analytics, 6(3), 5–10. https://doi.org/10.18608/jla.2019.63.2

Issue

Vol. 6 No. 3 (2019): Invited Dialogue: "What's the Problem with Learning Analytics?" (Selwyn, 2019)

Section

Invited Dialogue: "What's the Problem with Learning Analytics?" (Selwyn, 2019)

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