SAAIR SIG on Learning Analytics

Background

The purpose of the SIG is to bring together people and practitioners that look at learning analytics from a range of perspectives, research and practice, but mainly from the perspective of assisting institutions to implement appropriate initiatives in the Southern African context.

The Strategic Goals of the LA SIG are:

1. To increase the capacity and capabilities of people and practitioners during SAAIR conferences
2. To participate in national, regional and international Learning analytics events such as Learning Analytics Knowledge Conference (LAK)
3. Participate as a member of the African Chapter of The Society for Learning Analytics Research (SoLAR)

The objectives of the LA SIG are:

1. To host a repository of resources relating to Learning analytics.
2. To establish a database of people and practitioners who wants to contribute to Learning analytics.
3. To increase and build the data, learner and Learning analytics capabilities
4. To contribute to the research output relating to Learning analytics.
5. To encourage collaboration and sharing of best practices and usage of Learning analytics.
6. To monitor and contribute to learning analytics trends and usage both nationally and internationally.
7. To establish new connections and nurture existing social networks with institutions and colleagues working in Learning analytics.

Latest Webinar

Call to Action (How to get involved):

Sign Up here

Upcoming Events for 2026:

22 July- Learning Analytics Use Cases- Practical Applications (registration open soon)

The recommended resources of the LA SIG are:

1. Early Warning Systems for Student Success – The UCT Journey Using Learning Analytics Data (23 April 2026)
2. LA SIG Launch (22-23 April 2023)
3. A Practical Introduction to Privacy and Security for Institutional Researchers
   – Webinar 1 (26 June 2023): Information has value https://youtu.be/Eu_9lNuASQE Presentation
   – Webinar 2 (26 July 2023): A Broader Digital Competence – https://youtu.be/euyaEpT8O_M Presentation
4. New Horizon Report: 2019 Horizon Report
5. International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education: Journal Articles
6. Ethical Use of Student Data: Guidelines on the Ethical Use of Student Data
7. Code of practice for learning analytics: JISC Code of practice for learning analytics
8. Learning analytics: a South African higher education perspective: Lemmens and Henn SAAIR Presentation
9. Penetrating the Fog: Analytics in Learning and Education: Siemens and Long EDUCAUSE Article
10. Open Learning Analytics: an integrated & modularized platform: Siemens, Gasevic, Haythornthwaite, Dawson, Shum and et al. (2011)
11. Learning Analytics: Principles and Constraints: Khalil, M. & Ebner, M. (2015)

Related associations:

1. The Society for Learning Analytics Research (SoLAR) – https://www.solaresearch.org/
2. Carnegie Simon Initiative Learn Lab – https://learnlab.org/
3. Learn2Analyze – https://www.learn2analyse.eu/
4. Siyaphumelela – https://siyaphumelela.org.za/