How Data Helps ClassLink Schools Grow Digital Engagement

February 9, 2021
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Last year we shared data highlighting the remote learning experiences of ClassLink schools in the spring of 2020. The data painted a picture of schools making quick transitions to remote learning with relatively stable use compared to pre-pandemic numbers.

With the fall semester complete, we revisited ClassLink Analytics data to see how student engagement with digital resources had evolved.

When we compare data from schools using ClassLink in both the fall of 2019 and the fall of 2020, two stories emerge.

More students are using digital resources and engaging with them more consistently. In schools using ClassLink, an average of 60% more students logged in each day during fall 2020 compared to fall 2019.

Digital learning is realizing the promise of any time learning. Student engagement outside of traditional school hours is up. For example, we saw a 200% increase in student users on weekends in fall 2020 compared to fall 2019.

Much of this can be credited to leaders and educators being able to create strategic visions for fall learning after muddling through the dizzying initial stages of shifting to remote and hybrid learning.

With experience (and data) schools were able to make decisions and plans that would support student success across instructional models.

What’s Measured Gets Managed

ClassLink schools had access to an abundance of data points they could use to find answers to the questions that would drive those decisions.

  • Which digital resources weren’t being used?
  • Which students or teachers weren’t logging in?
  • When do students log in, and for how long?
  • Which digital resources were missing?

With detailed data to answer these questions, school leaders can decide if it is time to revisit license agreements, reallocate funds, provide training, reach out with support or even adjust existing plans.

Here are some specific examples of how schools used this data to plan their next steps:

  • With all of a school’s resources accessible through ClassLink LaunchPad, leaders can inventory and audit what they have and what is missing. As students move between remote and blended learning, district leaders can quickly find and fix gaps in resources.
  • Schools that noticed a significant uptick in weekend logins through ClassLink Analytics tell us they used this data to make staffing and support decisions. In addition to offering support hotlines during school hours, these districts offered support during weekends and evenings. With these adjustments, caregivers who had more time to help students with schoolwork outside traditional school hours still had access to support.
  • School leaders offer professional development in response to low usage of digital resources. They can target support to schools or staff members who aren't using a resource.
  • Similarly, schools use ClassLink Analytics data to connect with students who aren't logging in and conduct root cause analysis.

Get the Data You Need for the Next Phase in Education

Does your school have easily accessible data to help you understand student engagement with digital learning? Can you use that data to drive decisions that support anytime, anywhere learning? If not, ClassLink can help.

ClassLink makes it easier for schools to shift between remote, in-class, and hybrid learning by giving students and teachers one consistent way to access digital resources in any learning setting as well as analytics to track usage.

Join us for an informal 30-minute webinar to learn how ClassLink can solve access and engagement problems in your institution. Register here.

Categories:

ClassLink
Remote Learning

About the Author

About the Authors

Mary Batiwalla

Director of Evaluation Analytics

,

ClassLink

For over a decade Mary has dedicated her career to education, serving as a practitioner, researcher, and executive leader. In her most recent role as Assistant Commissioner at the Tennessee Department of Education, she led assessments, accountability, and data governance.

Alex Poon

Data Scientist

,

ClassLink