Big Data: A Game Changer For E-Learning

Introduction

Today, we live in a technology-driven world that forces us to spend most of our time using many types of digital devices. Though it might be alarming for some to know that the digital footprints we leave behind each and every second could be tracked for various purposes (good and bad), it is exciting for us as learning professionals to think of the possibilities of putting these digital breadcrumbs to better use in the learning and development landscape.

This is possible using Big Data – the latest buzzword in data mining and data analytics technologies.

But, what is Big Data?

Big Data refers to the large amounts of unstructured data flowing through numerous sources in our digital world every second. In the e-learning scenario, Big Data is the data produced by learners interacting with the learning content. This data is collected through Learning Management Systems (LMS), Content Management Systems (CMS) and other media, including social networks via which the learners interact with our learning programs.