This paper published in the journal TechTrends considers the growing interest in the collection of data on teaching and learning interactions within learning technology platforms and the potential role that such data has in advancing our understanding of the learning process. The paper provides an overview of the field of learning analytics and then identifies some critical issues that need to be addressed through educational research to ensure that the focus of learning analytics is, in fact, upon learning, and that the computational aspects of learning analytics is more fully integrated with educational research activities.
Gasevic, D., Dawson, S., and Siemens, G. (2015). Let’s not forget: Learning analytics are about learning. TechTrends, 59(1), 64-71.