Staff Information

What is Learning Data@JCU?

Learning Data@JCU uses a software program that extracts and integrates staff, student and organisational data from existing University information systems to create a series of new reports and dashboards for staff with a focus on real-time learning, teaching and student engagement within LearnJCU managed subjects.

What do I need to know about setting up my LearnJCU site?

Grade Centre

Over 50% of the reports in Blackboard Analytics for Learn rely on Grade Centre use. To ensure that your Grade Centre is set up for Blackboard Analytics check the Grade Centre Best Practice for Blackboard Analytics for Learn Guide.

Access to reports in your LearnJCU Site

Anyone with access to the Control Panel in your LearnJCU site can view the Level 1 Subject Reports. This includes the role of Subject Coordinator, Lecturer, Tutor and LearnJCU Site Editor. TO check the roles in your LearnJCU site check the Managing Staff Roles in LearnJCU Guide.

What do I need to know about understanding the reports?

Blackboard Analytics classifies information in a particular way to enable comparisons across the university and the reporting of trends.

Content, Tools and Assessment

Blackboard Analytics classifies information in a LearnJCU site as either Content, Tools or Assessment. The Content, Tools and Assessment Guide provides more information about the specific items in each of these categories.

Activity

Student interactions within LearnJCU are used as a proxy for engagement. When viewing student activity data it is important to consider the many ways that students may engage with LearnJCU, for example, reading a document online compared to downloading the document and reading offline. It is therefore important to consider the various types of activity data too.  Within Blackboard Analytics, activity is recoded as accesses, interactions, minutes and submissions. The Activity in Blackboard Analytics for Learn Guide provides explanations of each of these types of activities.

Merged subject sites

If you have different modes of a subject offered in single merged LearnJCU subject site, Blackboard Analytics selects one mode to enable comparisons.

How do I access Learning Data@JCU?

Level 1 Subject Reports

These reports focus on activity and design of a single LearnJCU subject. Staff can access the reports through Subject Analytics under Student Tracking in the Control Panel of a LearnJCU subject site.  You can see what the reports show by viewing the guides for each of the reports.

Level 2 Subject and Course Reports

These reports provide further detail about LearnJCU subject activity and site design, as well as information across multiple subjects, eg. students in a course that have not logged into one or more of their LearnJCU sites in the previous seven days.  Access to these reports is controlled through a delegations policy.

Level 3 Customised Reports and Dashboards

Customised reports and dashboards are built for specific roles within the University, e.g. College Student Support Officers, First Year Experience Coordinators, Course Coordinators, Associate Deans of Learning and Teaching etc.

Privacy

Within Blackboard Analytics for Learn security/access restrictions to the Level 1 Subject Reports described above are in alignment with the security/access restrictions currently in place for the data in the originating systems (Blackboard Learn, Teaching Roles Database, and Student Management System). That is, the information provided in the reports in information that staff within the subjects are already able to access.

What information will students receive?

All LearnJCU sites feature an announcement to students about Blackboard Analytics for Learn and direct them to further information on the JCU website. Staff are encouraged to explain to students how they use the Blackboard Analytics for Learn reports. For example, you may explain to students that if you see that they have not logged on for a substantial period of time then you might email them to ensure that everything is OK and provide details about the support services available at JCU.

FAQ

There is lots to learn about using and understanding Blackboard Analytics for Learn. Review the Frequently Asked Questions.

Who can I contact for further information and assistance?

If you have any questions or concerns, or would like further information, please contact the Learning Analytics Specialist:

Val Ruffle
Directorate of Learning, Teaching and Student Engagement
Phone:  (07) 4781 6239
Email:  valmae.ruffle@jcu.edu.au