Title: Using learning analytics to enhance UML use case diagrams assimilation in a distance education course

Authors: Panagoula Tsarmpou; Efthimios Tambouris

Addresses: Piraeus Bank Group, Michalakopoulou Branch 2079, 157 Michalakopoulou St., Postal Code 11527, Athens, Greece ' Applied Informatics Department, University of Macedonia, 156 Egnatia St, Thessaloniki, 54636, Greece

Abstract: The unified modelling language (UML) is currently included in a large number of Information Systems tertiary curricula as part of systems analysis and design courses. However, existing literature suggests that learning UML poses significant challenges particularly for distance education learners. The aim of this paper is to investigate the use of learning analytics in learning UML. For this purpose, a learning intervention has been implemented and deployed in the Hellenic Open University. The results enable us to relate performance with students' participation, attendance and engagement, to identify common UML misconceptions and to evaluate the effectiveness of different learning objects for the task at hand.

Keywords: learning analytics; e-learning; electronic learning; online learning; distance education; systems analysis; systems design; UML; unified modelling language; use case diagrams; moodle; distance learning; student performance; student participation; student attendance; student engagement; higher education; information systems education; learning objects.

DOI: 10.1504/IJLT.2015.074075

International Journal of Learning Technology, 2015 Vol.10 No.4, pp.274 - 290

Published online: 06 Jan 2016 *

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