About the Episode
About the Episode: The conversation explores the use of student-facing dashboards that provide data on student performance and behavior compared to their peers. The discussion touches on the potential benefits and concerns of this approach, including the impact on academic self-concept and the potential for gamification. The conversation also highlights the broader trend of data products for students and the potential for using data to improve the student experience.
Articles:
Scaling Up: Using Student Data to Motivate Academic Achievement
Peer effects on academic self-concept: a large randomized field experiment
Navigating Psychological Impacts
While the benefits are clear, the potential downsides of peer comparison are also discussed. Jamie highlights the "Big Fish Little Pond Effect," which describes how comparing oneself to peers can positively or negatively influence self-perception and academic success. Research shows mixed results:
- Positive outcomes: Some students may feel motivated to close performance gaps or sustain high achievement.
- Negative outcomes: Others may feel discouraged if they perceive themselves as far behind.
The hosts also point out recent studies suggesting that the impact of peer comparison on academic self-concept may be less significant than previously thought. However, more research is needed to validate these findings.
Expanding the Role of Data in Higher Ed
Timothy explores how student-facing data products are evolving beyond grades to include insights on engagement, resource utilization, and even personalized content recommendations. The possibilities are vast:
- Real-Time Dashboards: Academic progress, application statuses, and student health metrics.
- Behavior-Informed Content: Recommendations based on patterns like resource usage or application stage.
- Gamification and Incentives: Encouraging engagement through rewards for accessing resources or completing key tasks.
Both hosts agree that while the dashboards are promising, the success of these tools will depend on thoughtful implementation, privacy safeguards, and support systems for struggling students.
Final Thoughts
The Canvas dashboards mark a significant step toward democratizing data in higher education. While the psychological effects of peer comparison warrant further study, these tools have immense potential to empower students with actionable insights, improving both individual academic performance and overall engagement.
As this trend evolves, institutions should focus on:
- Supporting students with targeted interventions for those lagging behind.
- Expanding data transparency while safeguarding privacy.
- Exploring gamification and behavioral insights to foster student success.
Connect With Our Co-Hosts:
Jamie Boggs
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamiewboggs/
Timothy Davis
https://www.linkedin.com/in/davis-timothy/
About The Enrollify Podcast Network: The EduData Podcast is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!
Some of our favorites include Generation AI and The Higher Ed Geek.
Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — the next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com.
Connect with Us at the Engage Summit: Exciting news — Jamie and Timothy will be at the 2024 Engage Summit in Raleigh, NC, on June 25 and 26, and we’d love to meet you there! Sessions will focus on cutting-edge AI applications that are reshaping student outreach, enhancing staff productivity, and offering deep insights into ROI.
Use the discount code Enrollify50 at checkout, and you can register for just $200.
Learn more and register at engage.element451.com — we can’t wait to see you there!
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