Data Science as we know is the backbone of many transformative decisions for businesses across industries. The top executives and business leaders properly utilize the data science capabilities to make informed and data-driven business decisions. Now, data science is widely incorporated in the education sector as well. It has been transforming the traditional way of teaching and learning experiences. Also, the top education technology companies are using data science to improve their student retention and success rate.

So, how come data science has become an integral part of the education industry and how is it transforming this sector? Let’s check out various applications and benefits of data science in education.

Various Applications of Data Science in Education

The utilization of data science in the global higher education sector is larger than ever. The universities as well as top edtech giants are using data science for the following applications:

• Personalized Learning

  With the help of data science, the teachers and educational platforms can gather and analyze data related to the student's learning preferences, and gauge their performance, and engagement in the classroom. This analysis can then help build a personalized learning program. Students can learn at their own pace, and get support wherever required.

• Predictive Analysis

  Predictive Analysis is a very important tool for student retention. By leveraging the power of data science, it becomes easier to find out whether a student can complete his course or not. It can be found out easily by studying the student’s performance, attendance record, and disciplinary infractions. And thus the professors can intervene and take protective measures to retain the student.

• Adaptive Learning

  Adaptive Learning refers to creating learning content based on the student’s strengths and weaknesses. In the edtech industry, several companies have developed adaptive learning platforms that enable students to learn efficiently. Data Science helps to design content with varying difficulty based on students’ skills. Hence, students can emphasize and dedicate more time to the portion that is hard to understand for him

• Intelligent tutoring system

  After analyzing data gathered from classroom observation, student engagement, and tutor’s behavior, a more effective tutoring system can be made. In several cases, it has resulted in increased student engagement and efficient teaching.

• Cost Reduction

  Data Science is a great tool to find out where the cost is unnecessarily utilized and design proper resource allocation. This has helped top education technology companies to improve their cost expenditure and make their education platforms more efficient at a lesser cost.

• Educational Research and technology

  Whether it is identifying educational problems, or evaluating the acceptance of new educational programs, data science has proved to be a beneficial tool in doing educational research. Not only that, with proper data analysis, new educational technology has been introduced in the edtech industry.

Challenges to applying data science in Education

Now, that we understand that data science can be used for a wide range of applications in the edtech industry, we must also be aware of some challenges it comes with. Some of them have been briefly described below.

• Privacy concerns

  To perform effective data analysis, it is very important that the data gathered is accurate and purposeful. Student’s data are gathered for the same including their personal data, classroom behavior, academic scores, financial backgrounds, etc. These data need to be safeguarded and protected.

• Transparency

  While gathering data, students must be informed about the purpose of why their data is been taken. They should be informed about their consent and data shouldn’t be gathered by unfair means. Student and teacher surveys are important methods to gather data. So, they must be informed right then and there.

Benefits of Employing Data Science in Education

Employing data science in education is very much beneficial for students, teachers, as well as institutes, and education technology companies. With proper analysis teaching and learning experience can be enhanced, better edtech products can be introduced and the performance of both teachers and students can be improved. Not to mention, data science can benefit institutes and edtech companies in their business as a whole.

Conclusion

We can conclude that integrating data science in the edtech industry can completely transform the way students learn. In the future, we can see even more advanced technology that will benefit all the stakeholders in the entire education sector, right from students, and their parents to large education technology companies. We must also acknowledge the challenges it comes with regarding the personal data being shared which is ultimately utilized for their benefit only. In the coming years, we will have access to more robust technology and innovative way of learning, and we can also see pretty much a huge investment in the edtech companies as they continue to revolutionize this domain.