Summary

The Open University policy is based on "significant consultation with key stakeholders and review of existing practice in other higher education institutions and detailed in the literature" (OU, 2014:1.2.6). It is limited in scope to the use of information "strategically (through specified indicators) to retain students and progress them to complete their study goals" (Ibid:2). The policy itself is composed of eight principles subdivided into four categories: aligning with core University values, a definition of purposes and boundaries, engaging students in the use of their data, and ensuring the data is used wisely.
The principles at once assert that the use of student data is ethical, and that transparency, responsibility and effectiveness are key features of its ethical practice. They also state that the collection of data creates a responsibility to use it wisely, that if there is a benefit that may be realized that the university has a responsibility to act, but that there may be too many possible actions, creating a need to choose, and so "priorities will need to be established \x96 in terms of targeting particular curriculum areas (key modules, etc) and/or priority groups (for example, WASS or potentially vulnerable groups)" (OU, 2014:4.1.2).
They also recognize that the data collected will be limited, and that students cannot be defined by the data (one wonders whether this includes test scores). The purpose of collecting data should be "to identify ways of effectively supporting students to achieve their declared study goals" (OU, 2014:4.2.2). This is where the principles of transparency, responsibility and effectiveness come into play, such that "students should be engaged as active agents in the implementation of learning analytics (e.g. informed consent, personalised learning paths, interventions" (OU, 2014:4.3.2). Provisions also state that the modeling based on the data should be sound and free from bias, and that it requires "development of appropriate skills across the organisation" (OU, 2014:4.4).

Content

Force:yes