Evaluating geovisualization for spatial learning analytics

Contemporary systems for supporting digital learning are capable of collecting a wide range of data on learner behaviours. The emerging science and technology of learning analytics seeks to use this information to improve learning outcomes and support institutional assessment. In this work we explore the potential for the spatial dimension in learning analytics, and we evaluate a prototype geovisualization system designed to support what we call spatial learning analytics. A user evaluation with geographers and educators was conducted to characterize the usability and utility of our prototype spatial learning analytics system. By helping us understand what our prototype system does and does not do well, we are able to suggest a variety of new ways in which future spatial learning analytics systems can be developed.