Dr Geraldine Gray, Technological University Dublin
The 15th International Conference on Learning Analytics & Knowledge (LAK25), March 3rd to 7th, was a great success at the Radisson Blu and Dublin Royal Convention Centre. As the highest ranked education technology conference, and the only conference ranked in the top 20 Google Scholar citations for educational technology, the event saw 490+ leading international researchers, practitioners and educators explore the transformative impact of data analytics on teaching, learning and development. The event was led by the Society for Learning Analytics Research (SoLAR), and hosted by TU Dublin with the support of Trinity College Dublin, Open University UK and Meet in Ireland.
The conference featured keynotes, presentations, paper sessions, workshops and interactive panels. Renowned experts shared insights on the latest trends and future directions in learning analytics, including Professor Inge Molenaar exploring the role of artificial intelligence in education, and Professor Gautam Biswas presenting systematic approaches to promote self-regulated learning and socially shared regulation of learning.
The local organising committee hosted a very informative session on Leveraging Learning Analytics in Higher Education, with panelists Prof. Stephanie Teasley (University of Michigan), Dr Isabel Hilliger (Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile), Dr Alan Berg (University of Amsterdam) and Dr Fun Siong Lim (Nanyang Technological University Singapore). Key takeaways included building a culture that trusts data backed up by policy that protects data subjects, the importance of using data in meaningful ways, and the emerging importance of learning analytics in critically evaluating the transformative changes in education enabled by GenAI.
The local organising committee will be establishing an all-Ireland Learning Analytics Community of Practice focusing on advancing evidence-based practice in Higher Education in the age of Generative AI. Reach out to any of the committee members below if you would like to get involved: Dr Geraldine Gray (geraldine.gray@tudublin.ie), Dr Ana Schalk (schalka@tcd.ie), Dr Angelica Rísquez (angelica.risquez@ul.ie), Dr Kevin O’Rourke (kevin.orourke@TUDublin.ie), Dr Markus Hofmann (Markus.Hofmann@tudublin.ie.) and Mr. Rob Lowney (rob.lowney@dcu.ie).
