Learning Analytics: Sensemaking as a
                              foundation for the field

George Siemens                                                           Abstract
Technology Enhanced Knowledge                                            This presentation explored learning analytics from the
Research Institute                                                       perspective of sensemaking - social cognitive processes
Athabasca University                                                     people use to understand the world and the data they
Edmonton, AB T5J 3S8, Canada                                             encounter. Emphasis will be on how
gsiemens@athabascau.ca                                                   researchers/educators/administrators can used
                                                                         technical (or big data) analysis to interpret patterns
                                                                         and plan for change strategies that incorporate social
                                                                         aspects of sensemaking. The intent of learning analytics
                                                                         is not only to evaluate what learners have done or what
                                                                         they might do; analytics should help educators make
                                                                         sense of the meaning of the technical analysis of
                                                                         learner activity so they [the institution or educator] can
                                                                         respond and act with consideration of the social
                                                                         dimensions of learning.

                                                                         The full presentation is available at:
                                                                         http://videolectures.net/wave2013_siemens_sensemak
                                                                         ing/

                                                                         Author Keywords
Copyright © 2013 for the individual papers by the papers' authors.       Learning analytics, Sensemaking
Copying permitted only for private and academic purposes.
This volume is published and copyrighted by its editors.
                                                                         ACM Classification Keywords
WAVe 2013 workshop at LAK’13, April 8, 2013, Leuven, Belgium.
                                                                         K.3.1 [Computers and Education]: Computer Uses in
                                                                         Education - Computer-managed instruction (CMI);
                                                                         H.5.1 [Multimedia Information Systems]: Video
                                                                         (e.g., tape, disk, DVI)


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Bio
George Siemens is an educator and researcher on
learning, technology, networks, analytics, and
openness in education. He is the author of Knowing
Knowledge, an exploration of how the context and
characteristics of knowledge have changed and what it
means to organizations today, and the Handbook of
Emerging Technologies for Learning . Knowing
Knowledge has been translated into Mandarin, Spanish,
Italian, Persian, and Hungarian. Dr. Siemens is the
Associate Director of the Technology Enhanced
Knowledge Research Institute at Athabasca University,
leading the learning analytics research team. He has
delivered keynote addresses in more than 30 countries
on the influence of technology and media on education,
organizations, and society. His work has been profiled
in provincial, national, and international newspapers
(including NY Times), radio, and television. His research
has received numerous national and international
awards, including an honorary doctorate from
Universidad de San Martin de Porres for his pioneering
work in learning, technology, and networks. Dr.
Siemens is a founding member of the Society for
Learning Analytics Research
(http://www.solaresearch.org/). He has served as a
member of the Steering Committee for AACE's ED-
MEDIA conference since 2008. He is on the editorial
board of numerous journals, including MERLOT's JOLT
and JIME. He pioneered massive open online courses
(sometimes referred to as MOOCs) that have included
almost 20,000 participants




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