LASER Institute Team Leads Workshops at Learning Analytics and Knowledge (LAK24) Conference in Kyoto, Japan
Kyoto, Japan — Shaun Kellogg, senior director at the Friday Institute for Educational Innovation, along with members of the Learning Analytics in STEM Education Research (LASER) Institute team, led two workshops at the Learning Analytics and Knowledge (LAK24) Conference held March 18-22, 2024, at Kyoto University. The conference, organized by the Society for Learning Analytics Research (SoLAR), attracted a global audience of researchers and practitioners dedicated to advancing the field of learning analytics.
The LASER Institute team’s workshops provided attendees with practical, hands-on experience in two areas critical to educational data science: Social Network Analysis and learning analytics teaching methodologies.
- Social Network Analysis for Newbies.This workshop introduced participants to the basics of Social Network Analysis (SNA) for educational contexts. Participants learned how to analyze and visualize relationships within educational networks, offering fresh perspectives on understanding interactions among students, teachers and educational content. Through hands-on sessions, attendees developed essential SNA skills using tools specifically adapted for educational research.
- Learning to Teach with (and Learn from!) the LASER Institute Curriculum. In this workshop, participants engaged with the LASER Institute curriculum to learn effective strategies for integrating learning analytics into teaching practices. Designed to empower educators, this session provided insights into data-informed instructional design, fostering a culture of evidence-based teaching. Participants explored data-analytic approaches, from formative assessment to adaptive learning models, all grounded in the LASER Institute’s curriculum.
“These workshops reflect our commitment to making learning analytics accessible to scholars and educators worldwide,” said Kellogg. “Our goal is to equip attendees with practical skills they can immediately apply to enhance research, teaching and learning in STEM education and beyond.”
The LAK24 conference provided a unique platform for the LASER team to connect with an international community dedicated to the innovative use of data for educational improvement. The LASER Institute workshops were supported in part by the National Science Foundation, and attendees left with practical knowledge to apply and share with their institutions and networks.
For more information, please visit the LASER Institute’s workshop pages:
• Social Network Analysis for Newbies Workshop
• Learning to Teach with (and Learn from!) the LASER Institute Workshop
Scenes from LAK24 and Kyoto
SNA Participants 
SNA Workshop Group 
SNA Presenters 
LASER Team 
Tori Gate 
Golden Temple 
Nishiki Market 
Snowy Hondo 
Sake Tasting 
Night Temple 
Kyoto Conference Center 
Lobby 
View From Workshop
About the LAK24 Conference
Organized by SoLAR, the Learning Analytics and Knowledge (LAK) Conference is a premier international event showcasing research on the intersection of data analytics, education and knowledge creation. Hosted in 2024 by Kyoto University, LAK24 continues SoLAR’s mission of fostering a global network of scholars and professionals committed to advancing learning analytics.
About the LASER Institute
The Learning Analytics in STEM Education Research (LASER) Institute focuses on developing tools and training resources to support data-driven decision-making in education, especially within STEM disciplines. The Institute collaborates with educational researchers and practitioners across the United States to enhance the impact of learning analytics on teaching and learning.
For further details on the LASER Institute, visit go.ncsu.edu/laser-institute or contact:
Dr. Shaun Kellogg
Senior Director
Friday Institute for Educational Innovation
Email: shaun.kellogg@ncsu.edu
Phone: (919) 513-8563
The first draft of this article was generated using ChatGPT.
- Categories:
