Print

Print
Hi Gary

Following on from Hendriks answer

We have also put in place Google analytics which does provide a lot of useful information. One thing that the EesyAnalytics provides that Google doesn't is that it will display the access to areas in Blackboard by different roles. I am thinking that in combination Google Analytics and EesyAnalytics should provide us with pretty much everything that we need to gather with regard to system access and use. I am hoping that the statistics gained will help to guide strategy and resource allocation in the future.

By the way I believe that any UK customer can get a free 30 day trial of EesyAnalytics if you would like to see what it can do and whether it would provide the answer to your questions.

Thanks
Peter

-----Blackboard/Courseinfo userslist <[log in to unmask]> wrote: -----
To: [log in to unmask]
From: "H. van der Sluis" <[log in to unmask]>
Sent by: Blackboard/Courseinfo userslist <[log in to unmask]>
Date: 17/01/2013 08:40AM
Subject: Re: Analytics / Blackboard

Hi Gary,

At Kingston University we explored the use of client-sided data collection with Google Analytics on Blackboard.

Just putting a tracking code on Blackboard will not provide you with much meaningful analytics accept for the usual web metrics, such as number of visitors, demographics and server download times.
However, with customisation it is possible to obtain a very rich insight in it usage on an institutional level. By setting goals on URL snippets it becomes possible to track the visits/usage of almost all functionality and applications within blackboard. I documented the settings of our customisation at http://goo.gl/a7Gmh. I’m sorry but it didn’t fit in one blog post.

Google Analytics has obvious limitation, because not individual id etc are collected it mainly provides analytics on an institutional level, although a fair degree of filtering can be done on a module level, by taking the course id. It provides a rich insight in e.g. the usage of social and interactive tools which has be used to inform staff development and used in discussion to illustrate growing use of certain tools. In many respect the analytics has surprised us, on the other hand it has confirmed anecdotal and observed usage of the VLE.  

One other advantage is that besides from the initial customisation and maintenance it does not require a huge amount of investment, although that might change over time. And it does not require much technical knowhow, although some understanding of html and web-analytics will be useful.

Currently we are comparing client-sided data collection with server-sided data collection to attempt some form of validation. It is a debatable comparison, both data collection methods are different and in most occasions record in different units. But initial results of logins for example indicate a very strong correlation, and it is likely that both methods show similar trends.

More than happy to discuss things in more detail.

Kind regards,
Hendrik

Hendrik van der Sluis
Academic E-developer & Researcher
Kingston University


On 16 January 2013 15:36, Peter Rayment <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Hi Gary
>
> We have just started looking at Eesysoft Analytics, we already have Eesysoft
> Help system and are looking at the capabilities of the Analytics package
> (http://www.eesysoft.nl/) which I believe is being used by a number of Dutch
> Universities.
>
> We have deployed it on our Blackboard system, and it provides very
> interesting information, this is quite customisable. Currently we have
> started mapping points in the system to monitor, for example access to
> discussion boards or wikis. The results can then be displayed graphed
> showing the numbers of people of each role that are accessing that
> monitoring point.
>
> I am hoping that it will facilitate us in the focusing of Support and
> Training Materials, plus pro active promotion of Learning System
> capabilities.
>
> Also I am hoping it will allow us to see the results of campaigns and
> changes to the system over both the short and long term.
>
> We would also be able to surface currently unavailable information (usage
> statistics by role)  to key stakeholders within the University to
> demonstrate activity and levels of interaction within the university.
>
> If you are interested in seeing a demo of EesyAnalytics the person to
> contact is  Michel Visser his email address is [log in to unmask]
>
> Peter Rayment
> Learning Technology Manager
> Cardiff University
>
>
>
> -----Blackboard/Courseinfo userslist <[log in to unmask]>
> wrote: -----
> To: [log in to unmask]
> From: CLAY Gary
> Sent by: Blackboard/Courseinfo userslist
> Date: 16/01/2013 03:11PM
> Subject: Analytics / Blackboard
>
>
> Hi all - I've been asked to try and find out what is happening in the
> community with regard to utilising analytics with Blackboard.  I'd be
> interested to know therefore
>
> 1) how are institutions making use of analytics?
> 2) what software are you using?
> 3) what sort of things are you gleaning from this?
> 4) who makes use of the outputs from this?
> 5) has anything changed as a result of using analytics compared to how
> things were before you used them?
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------
> Gary Clay
> Learning Development Manager
> Learning Development and Innovation
> Staffordshire University
> Beaconside Campus
> Stafford ST18 0AD
> Telephone +44 (0) 1785 353648
> e-mail [log in to unmask]
>
>
> The information in this email is confidential and is intended solely for the
> addressee.  Access to this email by anyone else is unauthorised.
>
> If you are not the intended recipient, any disclosure, copying, distribution
> or any action taken or omitted to be taken in reliance on it, except for the
> purpose of delivery to the addressee, is prohibited and may be unlawful.
> Kindly notify the sender and delete the message and any attachment from your
> computer.

<[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]>