What's the best way to show digital learning analytics to stakeholders?

2 Choose the right metrics

Digital learning analytics can capture a wide range of data, such as enrollment, completion, engagement, satisfaction, performance, retention, and impact. However, not all metrics are equally important or meaningful for your stakeholders. You need to select the ones that align with your learning objectives, outcomes, and indicators, and that can demonstrate the value and quality of your digital learning offerings. For example, if your goal is to increase learner retention, you might want to focus on metrics such as dropout rates, time spent on tasks, feedback scores, and learner satisfaction. If your goal is to improve learner performance, you might want to focus on metrics such as assessment results, skill acquisition, knowledge transfer, and learner confidence.

3 Visualize the data

One of the most effective ways to show digital learning analytics to stakeholders is to use visual aids, such as charts, graphs, tables, dashboards, and infographics. Visualizing the data can help you highlight key trends, patterns, comparisons, and correlations, and make your reports more engaging, accessible, and memorable. However, you need to choose the right type of visual aid for each metric, and make sure it is clear, accurate, and consistent. For example, you might use a pie chart to show the distribution of learners by demographic group, a line chart to show the progress of learners over time, or a bar chart to show the comparison of learners by performance level.

4 Tell a story

Another way to show digital learning analytics to stakeholders is to use storytelling techniques, such as narratives, scenarios, case studies, and testimonials. Storytelling can help you contextualize the data, explain the causes and effects, and showcase the successes and challenges of your digital learning initiatives. It can also help you connect with your stakeholders on an emotional level, and inspire them to take action or support your recommendations. For example, you might use a narrative to describe how your digital learning program was designed and implemented, a scenario to illustrate how a learner benefited from your online course, or a testimonial to share how an instructor improved their teaching practice with your digital learning platform.

5 Provide recommendations

Finally, you need to show digital learning analytics to stakeholders in a way that can guide them to make informed decisions and take appropriate actions. You need to provide clear and concise recommendations based on your data analysis, and explain how they can help you achieve your learning goals and improve your digital learning offerings. You also need to provide evidence and arguments to support your recommendations, and anticipate and address any potential objections or questions from your stakeholders. For example, you might recommend to expand your digital learning program to new markets, and provide data on the demand, feasibility, and profitability of doing so.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?