Big data visualization: Application in visualizing learning activities

Abstract

Information visualization helps users quickly identify interesting and significant events and patterns from data that are otherwise too detailed or complex to discern. For instance, rich content and convenience provided by social networks allow students to exchange ideas and collaborate. In this context, students are interested in exploring learning activities of other students without having to read through lots of textual contents. Students tend to have the interest of finding information concerning their majors, contents of the subjects and their colearners. However, with the huge amount of information available, it is difficult to identify relevant information for the users. In this paper, we highlight challenges and opportunities in the visualization of big data and learning activities on social network and present a new method of visualizing learning activities of students on social networks. The method allows students to view trends in content and activities near them and around the world. A new application is developed based on the method and is evaluated. The results show that students find it fun and easy to explore learning activities of their peers.