This document proposes using browser extensions to embed learning analytics visualizations into a learning management system (LMS) without installing modules on the server. It describes a solution with two components: a learning analytics service that generates dynamic visualizations, and a browser extension installed on clients that applies content scripts to embed widgets with personalized visualizations on specific LMS course pages. The components would communicate to deliver customized visualizations depending on user role and context. Some issues for further discussion and future work are also outlined.

1. Learning analytics in the LMS: Using browser
extensions to embed visualizations into a
Learning Management System
Derick Leony, Abelardo Pardo, Luis de la Fuente Valentín,
Iago Quiñones, Carlos Delgado Kloos
http://gradient.it.uc3m.es
TaPTA Workshop 2012
Saarbrücken, Germany

2. Content
• Context
• Problem description
• Proposal
• Discussion
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3. Context
• Life-cycle of learning analytics process (Elias,
2011)
Data Process / Inter-
Collection Analysis ventions
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4. Context
• Life-cycle of learning analytics process (Elias,
2011)
Data Process / Inter-
Collection Analysis ventions
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5. Context
• Visualizations are a common method to
provoke interventions
Visualizations generated with
LearnGLASS
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6. Context
• The LMS is one the best channels of
communication to deliver visualizations
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7. Problem statement
• New functionality in LMS is usually done by
creating and installing a module
• The installation is site-wide: affects every
class in the LMS
• There is administrative overhead
• The module must be as stable as possible
• How can we enable the deployment of
visualizations in LMS without installing
modules in the server?
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8. Proposed solution
• Two components:
− At the server: Learning analytics service

In charge of generating a dynamic visualization
− Web browser extension

Installed on the client side
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9. Proposed solution
• Learning analytics service:
− Generating visualization to embed in LMS
− Visualization can be static or interactive
− The visualization can be personalized:

Different roles (learner, instructor)

Depending on context (location, time)
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10. Proposed solution
• Web browser extension:
− Applying content script on two course URLs
− Home page of the course

Embed a widget with the personal visualization
− Page with list of participants

Embed a visualization next to each portrait

Only applicable if the user is an instructor
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11. Proposed solution
• Communication between components
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12. Proposed solution
• Our implementation
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13. Discussion
• Some issues to be discussed:
− Unification of user identities
− Fragmentation of client software versions
− Dependency on the LMS layout
− Security of the communication between
components
• Future work:
− Test the components in a real scenario
− Generalize the browser extension
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14. Thank you!
Questions?
dleony@it.uc3m.es
http://github.com/dleony/MoodleViz
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