Society for Learning Analytics Research (SoLAR)

The Society for Learning Analytics Research (SoLAR) is an inter-disciplinary network of leading international researchers who are exploring the role and impact of analytics on teaching, learning, training and development. SoLAR has been active in organizing the International Conference on Learning Analytics & Knowledge (LAK) and the Learning Analytics Summer Institute (LASI), launching multiple initiatives to support collaborative and open research around learning analytics, promoting the publication and dissemination of learning analytics research, and advising and consulting with state, provincial, and national governments.

The Challenge

We are experiencing an unprecedented explosion in the quantity and quality of information available not only to us, but about us. We must adapt individually, institutionally and culturally to the transition in technologies and social norms that makes this possible, and question their impacts. What are the implications of such data availability for learning and knowledge building — not only in established contexts such as institutional learning platforms, but also in the emerging landscape of free, open, social learning online?

Mission

SoLAR has the following priorities to advance the field of learning analytics globally:

Foster the highest standards of academic research into learning analytics

Promote the development of open educational resources in learning analytics

Raise awareness of learning analytics amongst policy and decision-makers in educational institutions and governments

Create opportunities for the diverse stakeholders in learning analytics to communicate, collaborate and debate, e.g. academic researchers, product developers, educators, students, institutional administrators, government policy analysts.

References

About Society for Learning Analytics Research - www.solaresearch.org