Learning Analytics: From Big Data to Meaningful Data

This article introduces the special issue from the 2015 Learning Analytics and Knowledge conference. We describe the current state of the field, and identify some of the trends in recent research. As the field continues to expand,it seems that there are at least three directions of vigorous growth: the inclusion of multimodal data (gesture, eye-tracking, biosensors, etc.), the diversification of learning environments (MOOCs, classrooms, and hands-on learning environments.), and new types of research questions as researchers begin to consider a broader set of learning-related constructs (moving away, for example, from the focus on student retention.)