An Infographics-based Tool for Monitoring Dropout Risk on Distance Learning in Higher Education

Given the difficulty of identifying students at dropout risk from the native logs and reports of the Virtual Learning Environments (VLEs), computational methods and tools based on Learning Analytics (LA) have been researched and developed. The primary objective of this work was to develop a plugin-type tool that presents students at dropout risk. The plugin uses cognitive, social, and behavioral indicators of students through filters, notifications, and interactive graphs generated from Moodle data. The focus group method was used to evaluate the plugin with teachers, tutors, and managers of higher education online courses, followed by a qualitative analysis of the data collected. The plugin-type tool enhances the teachers' awareness of the students' dropout risk, making it easier and more objective. It also allows the graphical visualization of students' strategic cognitive, social, and behavioral data.