Tracking and Visualization from in-class Moodle Page Views Using TSCS Monitor

Abstract

This paper describes the development and trial performance of Time Series Cross Section (TSCS) Monitor, an interactive student monitoring and tracking system that uses an Excel macro to extract tracking data from Moodle page views. TSCS Monitor generates pivot tables using a Time Series Cross Section framework that can be used by the course instructor. TSCS Monitor and the tables it provides allow comprehensive visualizations that give an overview of the entire class, rather than solely tracking the activity of individual students or focusing on a particular resource. Instructors can perform an analysis of the entire class and produce a clear picture of when learners have opened the material, either in-class or previously. The numerical data provided by the TSCS tables can be used to identify leamers who access the materials without properly following instructions as well as those who delay accessing the materials.