Distance Learning
Distance Learning
Tell Your Story:
Creating Data-driven Narratives Patrick Flanigan Julie Uranis, Ph.D. Western Kentucky University
Goals: Distance Learning
Today’s Discussion: • Data Standards and Data Strategy • Identifying Resources • Developing KPIs • Data Visualization & Narratives • Communicating Information to Stakeholders
Background Distance Learning
• • • • •
Director with no time - loves data No regular/consistent reporting on non-student data Division Annual Report was a nightmare to produce Hard to ‘close the loop’ on AY action plans Didn’t know what we did, but that it took 20+ people 40+ hours each week to do that work.
Defining and Creating a Data Position Distance Learning
• Reallocated State Auth. Position • Focused on my deficiencies • Understanding of Higher Ed Data Sources
Data Strategy Distance Learning
• Identify what you have • KPIs • Define terms and detail the types of data • Determine appropriate sources and ‘officialness’ needed • Create your plan
Crafting a Data-Driven Narrative Distance Learning
Identifying Key Performance Indicators • • • • •
Questions others ask (“The Provost wants to know…”) Surveys State Authorization Data Requirements Accreditation Scorecards, Hallmarks, and other Outside
The Role of the Data Specialist Distance Learning
Data Management Specialist
Support Data-driven Decision Making
Craft a Data-driven Narrative
Data-Driven Decision Making Distance Learning
Identify Challenges
Evaluate
Implement Changes
Ask Questions
Collect Analyze Synthesize
Crafting a Data-Driven Narrative Distance Learning
What is our story? • WKU online bachelor’s degree program ranked #3 by US News and World Report • We offer a wide array of services to faculty who teach online courses • The work we do has a significant impact on students
Crafting a Data-Driven Narrative Distance Learning
Baseline KPIs: • How many faculty members are we serving? • How many course are we supporting? • How many students are we impacting?
Crafting a Data-Driven Narrative Distance Learning
• Collect • Analyze • Synthesize
Crafting a Data-Driven Narrative Distance Learning
Data Visualization • Stay focused on the story you are trying to tell • Keep it simple • Resist the urge to include lots of text, multiple colors, and effects
Crafting a Data-Driven Narrative Distance Learning
Enrolments
5000
2016 2015 2014 2013 2012
0
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
Year
Fall Term Distance Learning enrollment by college 5 year Comparison
Crafting a Data-Driven Narrative Distance Learning
Fall Term Distance Learning Enrollment
12916
12652
2012
2013
11838
2014
12660
2015
14120
2016
Frequency of Reporting Distance Learning
Weekly, Semester, & Annual Data Reporting: • Weekly Enrollment Reports • Semester: Testing Center, On Demand, Faculty Support • Annual: DL Operations & DELO Impact
Crafting a Data-Driven Narrative Distance Learning
Tell Your Story Distance Learning
Data-Driven Decisions
Data-driven Narratives Identify Challenges
Evaluate
Implement Strategy
Ask Questions
Collect Analyze Synthesize
Bringing It All Together Distance Learning
Story
Data to support the story
Data tied to story by easy-to-understand data visualizations
SHARE IT
What’s Next at WKU? Distance Learning
• Developing an internal dashboard reporting all DL KPIs • Survey of online students and faculty measuring perceptions of online learning • Develop reports on student/faculty behaviors: • Repeat On Demand students with demographics • Developed Courses that Persist • Time elapse - course reaching capacity • Unretained students, with demographics, drops, holds, that showed intent to persist • Exploring derivative variables that are indicators of student behaviors
Resources Distance Learning
10 Free Tools for Creating Infographics: http://www.creativebloq.com/infographic/tools-2131971 WKU DL Annual Report: WKU DELO Impact Report: http://www.wku.edu/delo/about.php WKU DL Data Strategy Document: http://bit.ly/WKUDataPlan Patrick’s Job Description: http://bit.ly/WKUDATASpec
Distance Learning
THANK YOU! Patrick Flanigan ([email protected]) Julie Uranis ([email protected])
Tell Your Story:
Creating Data-driven Narratives Patrick Flanigan Julie Uranis, Ph.D. Western Kentucky University
Goals: Distance Learning
Today’s Discussion: • Data Standards and Data Strategy • Identifying Resources • Developing KPIs • Data Visualization & Narratives • Communicating Information to Stakeholders
Background Distance Learning
• • • • •
Director with no time - loves data No regular/consistent reporting on non-student data Division Annual Report was a nightmare to produce Hard to ‘close the loop’ on AY action plans Didn’t know what we did, but that it took 20+ people 40+ hours each week to do that work.
Defining and Creating a Data Position Distance Learning
• Reallocated State Auth. Position • Focused on my deficiencies • Understanding of Higher Ed Data Sources
Data Strategy Distance Learning
• Identify what you have • KPIs • Define terms and detail the types of data • Determine appropriate sources and ‘officialness’ needed • Create your plan
Crafting a Data-Driven Narrative Distance Learning
Identifying Key Performance Indicators • • • • •
Questions others ask (“The Provost wants to know…”) Surveys State Authorization Data Requirements Accreditation Scorecards, Hallmarks, and other Outside
The Role of the Data Specialist Distance Learning
Data Management Specialist
Support Data-driven Decision Making
Craft a Data-driven Narrative
Data-Driven Decision Making Distance Learning
Identify Challenges
Evaluate
Implement Changes
Ask Questions
Collect Analyze Synthesize
Crafting a Data-Driven Narrative Distance Learning
What is our story? • WKU online bachelor’s degree program ranked #3 by US News and World Report • We offer a wide array of services to faculty who teach online courses • The work we do has a significant impact on students
Crafting a Data-Driven Narrative Distance Learning
Baseline KPIs: • How many faculty members are we serving? • How many course are we supporting? • How many students are we impacting?
Crafting a Data-Driven Narrative Distance Learning
• Collect • Analyze • Synthesize
Crafting a Data-Driven Narrative Distance Learning
Data Visualization • Stay focused on the story you are trying to tell • Keep it simple • Resist the urge to include lots of text, multiple colors, and effects
Crafting a Data-Driven Narrative Distance Learning
Enrolments
5000
2016 2015 2014 2013 2012
0
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
Year
Fall Term Distance Learning enrollment by college 5 year Comparison
Crafting a Data-Driven Narrative Distance Learning
Fall Term Distance Learning Enrollment
12916
12652
2012
2013
11838
2014
12660
2015
14120
2016
Frequency of Reporting Distance Learning
Weekly, Semester, & Annual Data Reporting: • Weekly Enrollment Reports • Semester: Testing Center, On Demand, Faculty Support • Annual: DL Operations & DELO Impact
Crafting a Data-Driven Narrative Distance Learning
Tell Your Story Distance Learning
Data-Driven Decisions
Data-driven Narratives Identify Challenges
Evaluate
Implement Strategy
Ask Questions
Collect Analyze Synthesize
Bringing It All Together Distance Learning
Story
Data to support the story
Data tied to story by easy-to-understand data visualizations
SHARE IT
What’s Next at WKU? Distance Learning
• Developing an internal dashboard reporting all DL KPIs • Survey of online students and faculty measuring perceptions of online learning • Develop reports on student/faculty behaviors: • Repeat On Demand students with demographics • Developed Courses that Persist • Time elapse - course reaching capacity • Unretained students, with demographics, drops, holds, that showed intent to persist • Exploring derivative variables that are indicators of student behaviors
Resources Distance Learning
10 Free Tools for Creating Infographics: http://www.creativebloq.com/infographic/tools-2131971 WKU DL Annual Report: WKU DELO Impact Report: http://www.wku.edu/delo/about.php WKU DL Data Strategy Document: http://bit.ly/WKUDataPlan Patrick’s Job Description: http://bit.ly/WKUDATASpec
Distance Learning
THANK YOU! Patrick Flanigan ([email protected]) Julie Uranis ([email protected])
