Analysis of Online Behavior and Prediction of Learning Performance in Blended Learning Environments

A variety of studies to predict students' performance have been conducted since educational data such as web-log files traced from Learning Management System (LMS) are increasingly used to analyze students' learning behaviors. However, it is still challenging to predict students' learning achievement in blended learning environment where online and offline learning are combined. In higher education, diverse cases of blended learning can be formed from simple use of LMS for administrative purposes to full usages of functions in LMS for online distance learning class. As a result, a generalized model to predict students' academic success does not fulfill diverse cases of blended learning. This study compares two blended learning classes with each prediction model. The first blended class which involves online discussion-based learning revealed a linear regression model, which explained 70% of the variance in total score through six variables including total log-in time, log-in frequencies, log-in regularities, visits on boards, visits on repositories, and the number of postings. However, the second case, a lecture-based class providing regular basis online lecture notes in Moodle show weaker results from the same linear regression model mainly due to non-linearity of variables. To investigate the non-linear relations between online activities and total score, RF (Random Forest) was utilized. The results indicate that there are different set of important variables for the two distinctive types of blended learning cases. Results suggest that the prediction models and data-mining technique should be based on the considerations of diverse pedagogical characteristics of blended learning classes.