In the late 2000s, Arizona State University (ASU) discovered that more than a third of its freshman class was struggling with mathematics. To address this, it promptly integrated adaptive learning software into its introductory math course. The university’s math pass rate improved from 66% to 75% in just two years. That’s not all. With students performing better in mathematics, the university’s dropout rates fell by a whopping 50%.
This wasn’t science fiction or a stroke of luck — just good old big data at work.
That’s the power of big data, which harnesses vast volumes of information to help you predict learning outcomes, tailor classroom instructions, and drive decisions that promote better learning environments and operational efficiency. It is expected to grow in strength during the next decade, reaching a projected market value of $57.14 billion by 2030.
Aside from ASU, many smart schools have integrated digital tools and platforms into their teaching pedagogy. With the data generated from these platforms, schools can pinpoint which students are struggling with certain concepts, which learning methods work (or don’t), and whether their students are as engaged in their study material as they are on TikTok.
Not just that, big data can also help you set your administrative operations straight, whether it is optimizing staff scheduling or predicting energy patterns to lower utility costs.
Read on to learn how smart schools are using big data to shape the future of education.
The Role of Big Data in Modern Education
From K-12 schools to universities, big data is making educational institutions efficient at every level. Schools can now easily track student performance and identify students at risk of failing by looking at test scores, grades, and attendance records. As a result, teachers can build better learning strategies to help at-risk pupils or challenge students to reach their full potential.
For example, KIPP (Knowledge Is Power Program) charter schools use big data to analyze and improve their students’ performance. They use data analytics to monitor every student falling behind, allowing teachers to intervene early and offer counseling or extra coaching support. This type of proactive analysis has helped KIPP students stay on track with their classes and perform better, leading to higher graduation rates.
Key Trends
Another area where big data is making a big difference is student engagement. Armed with real-time engagement data from classroom sessions (thanks to data analytics), teachers can help students look forward to classes and instill a love for learning — whether by introducing interactive tools or creative lesson plans.
Personalized AI-assisted programs can also help schools identify topics or concepts where students need more practice, boosting their confidence and motivating them to learn.
With the influx of Gen Zs and Gen Alphas into schools, educators rely more on big data and learning tools to drive educational decisions and less on traditional methods that may have worked with millennials and Gen Xers.
Challenges
While revolutionary, this data-driven shift is not without challenges. With the power to use big data comes the responsibility to protect student privacy. Schools need to ensure that unauthorized persons do not misuse or access sensitive student data.
Also, implementing big data strategies without proper training is like fishing with a net full of holes — you’ll catch very little. As such, schools must train their staff properly to unlock the full potential of big data solutions.
Enhancing Student Success With Big Data
A one-size-fits-all approach no longer works for academic learning. Personalized learning through data is the need of the hour. Using big data, you can take a simple metric such as test scores and use it to understand the areas where each student needs the most practice. For example, is it fractions? Is it essay writing?
Based on this data, you can tailor your lesson plans and instructions to each student, allowing them to progress at their own pace and learning level.
Georgia’s Fulton County Schools District did that by rolling out an initiative that encouraged all schools in the district to follow a personalized learning program using data analytics. As part of this program, schools could:
• Design and implement personalized learning plans.
• Manage remote classroom sessions via the Fulton Virtual School.
• Track student progress with data dashboards.
• Enable self-paced learning through Flipped Classroom models.
• Use education apps and instructional software for customized learning.
Early Intervention
While seeing students learn and achieve academic success is rewarding, it is twice as difficult to watch them withdraw from their educational setting and spiral toward academic failure. The good news is that predictive software, with its early warning systems, can help you spot students struggling with their coursework. It can examine attendance patterns and grades to predict at-risk academic behavior in its early stages, allowing you to provide timely support and counseling to help such students get back on track.
Improved Engagement
The connection between student engagement and success isn’t just talk. Students actively engaged in classroom learning are less likely to drop out and are more optimistic about their future. Luckily, big data lets you track this elusive metric so you can find ways to boost engagement when it is lagging.
ClassDojo and Google Classroom are popular tools that give educators real-time feedback on classroom engagement. A quick study of these metrics can help schools find creative ways to keep students engaged, whether it is through interactive learning activities or immersive discussions.
Driving School Efficiency With Big Data
Resource Optimization
Imagine being able to see where your school’s money is going or predict how many teachers you’ll need next year based on enrollment numbers. Big data has the potential to help schools manage day-to-day operations smoothly, ensuring no resources are wasted, and funds are directed to areas that need them the most.
Predictive analytics tools can do it all, from gauging staffing needs based on class size to analyzing spending trends for effective budgeting. They can also forecast enrollment trends, allowing you to better accommodate students in the upcoming school year.
Operational Efficiency
Remember when teachers and administrative staff were buried under mounds of paperwork and manual tasks? Schools can use big data to automate administrative tasks, making this labor-intensive nightmare a thing of the past.
Here are some ways schools can achieve this:
Using software to analyze data like teacher availability or classroom space for scheduling tasks.
Using software to assess your school’s energy usage habits to curb utility expenses and promote ecologically sustainable practices.
Educational data analytics can help schools integrate student data sources, including test scores and attendance records, into a central system instead of manually sorting them.
Data-Driven Decision Making
Data-driven education strategies can help you improve students’ learning outcomes at the classroom level by tailoring instructions to each learner’s specific needs and pace. They can be equally effective at the macro level, influencing district-wide policies such as curriculum revisions and counseling support based on demographic data and trends.
Some commonly used data-based tools that schools use for decision-making include:
• PowerSchool: This comprehensive student information system provides real-time student performance, attendance, and behavior data.
• Tableau: This powerful data visualization tool helps schools create interactive dashboards and reports.
• Looker Studio: The Looker Studio tool generates customizable reports to help schools make better decisions.
Shaping the Future of Education With Big Data
If someone had told you 50 years ago that data-based software could help your pupils perform better in school or help your staff run school operations smoothly, you would have probably scoffed. But today, smart schools around the globe are driving students to brighter futures. They are also making their operations more efficient than ever.
By employing analytical and predictive tools, your school can enjoy the benefits of modern teaching methods and enhanced educational efficiency.
Remember, what we do with our data today will determine whether or not our students have a successful academic future tomorrow. Don’t let your school’s valuable data go to waste; put it to work and watch your students and institution thrive.
If every school strives to be a “smart school” and makes decisions driven by data, we can imagine a future in which learning is more accessible, more students flourish in their careers, and, most importantly, schools are held to a higher standard of excellence.