Learning Analytics Dashboard
CADA
Learning Analytics Dashboard
CADA
The CADA project was developed to support university teachers in tracking student engagement and enhancing their own teaching practices in online discussion
The CADA (Canvas Discussion Analytics Dashboard) project was developed to support university teachers in tracking student engagement and enhancing their own teaching practices in online discussions, particularly in blended and distance learning contexts.
The tool was co-designed with teachers from the ground up: they were involved in identifying the challenges they faced, reviewing early prototypes, testing functional versions, and giving feedback across multiple design iterations. Their input shaped everything from the dashboard's visual layout to the types of insights it provides.
CADA offers clear, real-time visualizations of student activity, such as who is participating, what key concepts are being used, and how students are responding to one another. With this information, teachers were able to identify inactive students, notice when discussions lacked depth, or when students misunderstood core concepts. For example, one teacher adjusted a seminar to focus on overlooked themes, another reorganised group work after noticing weak interaction patterns.
Teachers reported feeling better prepared for classes, able to intervene earlier, and more confident in adapting their teaching to meet students’ actual needs. Ultimately, CADA aims to empower teachers with timely, clear insights that lead to more inclusive and effective teaching.
The CADA (Canvas Discussion Analytics Dashboard) project was created to help university teachers track student engagement and improve teaching in online discussions, especially in blended and distance learning.
Co-designed with teachers, the tool evolved through their input, from identifying challenges to testing prototypes and shaping features like the dashboard layout and types of insights provided.
CADA offers real-time visualizations of student activity, showing participation levels, key concepts used, and interaction patterns. This helped teachers spot inactive students, shallow discussions, or misunderstandings, leading to timely adjustments like reworking seminars or reorganizing groups.
Teachers felt more prepared, able to intervene earlier, and more confident in adapting their teaching. CADA ultimately supports more inclusive and effective learning through timely, actionable insights.
The CADA (Canvas Discussion Analytics Dashboard) project was created to help university teachers track student engagement and improve teaching in online discussions, especially in blended and distance learning.
Co-designed with teachers, the tool evolved through their input, from identifying challenges to testing prototypes and shaping features like the dashboard layout and types of insights provided.
CADA offers real-time visualizations of student activity, showing participation levels, key concepts used, and interaction patterns. This helped teachers spot inactive students, shallow discussions, or misunderstandings, leading to timely adjustments like reworking seminars or reorganizing groups.
Teachers felt more prepared, able to intervene earlier, and more confident in adapting their teaching. CADA ultimately supports more inclusive and effective learning through timely, actionable insights.
