Digital rhetoric: Ecologies and economies of digital circulation
by Eyman, Douglas Andrew, Ph.D., Michigan State University, 2007, 235 pages; AAT 3282094 This wasn't really about web analytics per-se, but pretty interesting, and probably applies more to the New Media class I'm taking. I think that it still might shed some light on how we glean and categorize data/information, ownership, and data 'fingerprints' in digital space.
Utilizing student data within the course management system to determine undergraduate student academic success: An exploratory study
by Campbell, John Patrick, Ph.D., Purdue University, 2007, 219 pages; AAT 3287222 This pretty much covers the aspect that much of what I skimmed on the web was talking about - using analytics through a LMS (Learning Management System). Not too exciting.
A conceptual framework for making knowledge actionable through capital formation
by Baker, Brett Michael, D.Mgt., University of Maryland University College, 2007, 169 pages; AAT 3254328
This is exactly what we've been talking about but focused on decision making in general rather than education. (Of course what we're really talking about though is making decisions in education anyway) So it applies generally - but I don't think it discusses web analytics as a tool - hard to say because there is no search capability - the text is just a picture. But here is a quote from the abstract that made me want to read more -- later.
Key elements of the conceptual framework included data mining, knowledge management, and capital formation processes to facilitate actionable knowledge for decision-making. Knowledge management and data mining developed along independent paths though each has a clear understanding that decision-enabling knowledge is one of the most important assets of any organization.
Then he pretty much defines the need that brought web analytics about:
The rapidly growing volumes of computerized data has keyed the need and development of more automated ways of extracting actionable knowledge
Automatic document-level semantic metadata annotation using folksonomies and domain ontologies
by Al-Khalifa, Hend S., Ph.D., University of Southampton (United Kingdom), 2007; AAT C828878
This uses del.icio.us tags for data mining. More along the lines of my New Media class than web analytics. But interesting.
An architecture for augmenting the SCORM run-time environment with a personalised link service
Studying the implications of hidden learning styles by tracing learners' behaviors in an eLearning system by Sawaan, Sara Yakout Mohamed, M.S., University of Louisville, 2006, 330 pages; AAT 1448633
Though this has a very unusual organization and style, and A LOT of 'learning style' theory to slog through, I think it comes closest to what we're looking for. Though it does not USE web analytics, it tries to gather the same data that an educational analytics package might.
Summary: Web analytics is a NEW emerging field, lots of room for new research and applications in education -- we haven't, as of yet, even scratched the surface.
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