Learning analytics for learning blogospheres

Abstract

In blogospheres the learning process is characterized by evolving roles of bloggers and dynamic change of content. Existing approaches for learning blogospheres do not provide a comprehensive solution to dealing with these dynamics. In this paper, we propose a learning analytics approach for learning blogospheres unifying two complementary perspectives: (1) structural analysis of the blogosphere to identify learners' social capital; and (2) content analysis to capture dynamics in blog content over time. To support both types of analysis, social network analysis methods are applied as a fundamental approach to analyzing and visualizing knowledge sharing on learning blogospheres. We exemplify the learning analytics approach using two real-world learning blogospheres: the Mediabase - a large blog collection for technology enhanced learning, and the European eTwinning Network - a lifelong learning blogsphere. Results show that both analytics perspectives in combination advocate an advanced learning analytics approach to understanding and assessing learning processes in learning blogospheres. © 2012 Springer-Verlag.