ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an overview of the ways in which Learning Analytics (LA) can be used to assess student learning outcomes. It also provides an overview of the purpose, goals, advantages, and limitations of traditional assessment methods. The chapter explores how LA can be used to enhance traditional assessment, through formative and direct measures from visualized, timely, predictive, and new data. It explains the complexities of using LA data for assessment within the context of higher education institutional realities. Traditional assessment uses a variety of tools and methods to collect data for analysis and to inform institutional and individual improvement. Student success metrics can be assessed indirectly, through surveys, interviews, and other self-report measures, or directly, through course- or program-based measurements like homework, exams, standardized tests, or projects. The chapter identifies barriers with recommendations for leveraging guidance, communication, context, and agency as means to improve assessment through thoughtful incorporation of LA.
