Learning Analytics: The next frontier for computer assisted language learning in big data age

Department of English, North China Electric Power University, Beijing, 102206, China

Abstract

Learning analytics (LA) has been applied to various learning environments, though it is quite new in the field of computer assisted language learning (CALL). This article attempts to examine the application of learning analytics in the upcoming big data age. It starts with an introduction and application of learning analytics in other fields, followed by a retrospective review of historical interaction between learning and media in CALL, and a penetrating analysis on why people would go to learning analytics to increase the efficiency of foreign language education. As approved in previous research, new technology, including big data mining and analysis, would inevitably enhance the learning of foreign languages. Potential changes that learning analytics would bring to Chinese foreign language education and researches are also presented in the article.