Title: Design of a learning progress visualisation tool and its impact on students' motivation and results: a case study

Authors: Cristina Alonso-Fernández; José L. Jorro-Aragoneses; Carlos M. Alaíz

Addresses: Software Engineering and Artificial Intelligence Department, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain ' Computer Science Department, Escuela Politécnica Superior, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain ' Computer Science Department, Escuela Politécnica Superior, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain

Abstract: Self-awareness of learning progress is crucial for students to identify strengths and areas needing improvement, and to boost their motivation. Learning analytics provide such information about learning progress. In this paper, we describe the design of a visualisation tool to track student progress in the topics covered throughout a university course. We also investigate its impact on students' results and motivation to participate in optional learning activities. To evaluate the impact of the tool, we compared two groups of approximately 20 students during the whole semester. Our findings indicate that when they had access to the progress visualisation, students completed more review activities in course topics and were more consistent in their review activities throughout the course, while those in the control group engaged with these activities primarily near course deadlines. The methodology employed in this study could be adapted to other courses to further generalise our results.

Keywords: visualisation tool; learning progress; student motivation; student results; learning analytics; case study; progress visualisation; Moodle.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTEL.2026.152752

International Journal of Technology Enhanced Learning, 2026 Vol.18 No.2, pp.168 - 188

Received: 04 Oct 2024
Accepted: 22 Nov 2024
Published online: 09 Apr 2026 *

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