Post date: Jan 11, 2013 7:34:50 PM
As announced at the 1st Learning Analytics Fellows meeting, there are two Exploring Learning Analytics grants that are looking for talented graduate students who would be interested in either of the following GSRA positions (can be .5, .25 - can also be hourly for Winter and then 1.0 FTE in Summer, potentially):
#1 - "Customized Course Advising"
This project seeks to help identify which courses, in what combinations, and in which order are optimal for different students within STEM learning communities. Building on the “Degree Compass” project, this project will conduct statistical analyses and construct a predictive logic model that, when implemented into an online tool, can help students understand and plan for their future course planning in concert with their academic advisors and coaches. Further, information about transfer credit from other academic institutions will be utilized to optimize the predictive model and help inform student choices before taking such courses. Institutional knowledge from academic advisors as well as information related to career paths and time-to-degree will be included. Finally, student surveys and focus groups will be utilized in combination with quantitative measures from the UMData Warehouse.
The GSRA will be a member of the USE Lab and conduct data modeling and statistical analyses, assist with interviews. The student will have the opportunity to serve as co-author on papers, articles, and reports that result from this project.
**Needs a fair amount of knowledge about statistics.
#2 - "Engaged Advising: Using Data to Construct a Narrative for Success"
This project proposes to leverage the LSA Online Advising file to include information available in different systems and databases within a new hybrid system that will provide ongoing collaborative intervention and holistic support for student success. Both quantitative and qualitative course performance information will be combined with relevant demographic information and study skills information to address student preparation, actual mastery of content,
and engagement. The project will use learning analytics techniques create a dashboard system that will enhance the visibility of student information in order to facilitate advisors’ conversations with students. This real-time system is intended be able to identify critical behavioral patterns, and identify and test specific support interventions with students.
The GSRA will be a member of the USE Lab and be responsible for interview and survey data collection, conduct data modeling and statistical analyses, provide feedback on user interface elements of the user dashboards. The student will have the opportunity to serve as co-author on papers, articles, and reports that result from this project.
**Needs to be able to serve as translator between users (academic advisors) and the system developer.
Both positions will be funded as .25 GSRA (includes full tuition) from the grant and .25 hourly temp at GSRA rate from the USE Lab (negotiable and VERY flexible). They would start in Winter '13 and continue at least through Sp/Su (through Fall term for Engaged Advising Project).
Please no not circulate these positions broadly, but feel free to recommend specific students to Stephanie Teasley (steasley@umich.edu) and Steve Lonn (slonn@umich.edu)