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As online education continues to expand, institutions increasingly rely on learning analytics to track and improve student engagement and performance. Learning analytics uses engagement data — such as how often students log in, how long they spend on course materials, or how actively they participate in class discussions — to help instructors and students monitor progress. However, using this data raises important ethical questions. Do students feel comfortable with their data being collected? Do they understand how it is used? This blog post summarizes findings from a recent study that explored these questions.
What was the study about?
The study focused on students’ perceptions of engagement data collection and usage.Researchers surveyed 108 students from online education programs in Finland and Switzerland. These students had experience with platforms that track engagement data, so they were well-suited to share their views. The survey covered:
- Privacy concerns
- Transparency and understanding of data collection practices
- Comfort with data being shared with teachers and classmates
- Desire for control over data use
Key findings
Students Want Transparency
Many students said they were not fully informed about how their engagement data was collected and used. Most students (72.5%) said they wanted to be better informed. They felt that clear explanations would improve their comfort with data collection.
Comfort Depends on Who Sees the Data
Students were comfortable with engagement data being shown to themselves and their instructors. However, they were less comfortable if the data was visible to classmates. This suggests that privacy within the classroom is a strong concern.
Facial Expression Data Raises the Most Concerns
The most sensitive type of data was facial expression data collected through webcams. Many students found this level of monitoring intrusive, even if the goal was to measure engagement.More than half of participants were very concerned about facial expression data collection.
Students Want Control Over Their Data
One-third of students said they wanted more control over what data is collected and how it is used. They wanted the ability to:
- Choose what types of data can be collected
- Review and correct their data
- Delete their data if needed
- Know who has access to their data
Ethical and Security Concerns
Students also worried about how their data might be stored and whether unauthorized access could occur. They wanted assurances that their data would not be used for marketing purposes or combined with other data sets without their permission.
Benefits of engagement data — with conditions
Most students saw some benefits to engagement data collection, especially when it helped them track their own learning progress. Some students said knowing their engagement scores motivated them to participate more actively. However, a small group said seeing their scores made them anxious and less likely to engage.
What should institutions do?
To build trust and protect students’ rights, institutions should:
1. Clearly explain what data is collected, why, and how it will be used
2. Allow students to control who sees their data.
3. Limit the collection of highly sensitive data, like facial expressions, unless absolutely necessary.
4. Give students easy access to their own data, with options to correct or delete it.
5. Ensure strong security protections to prevent unauthorized access.
Conclusion
Students understand that engagement data can support learning, but they want institutions to respect their privacy, give them control, and be transparent about data practices. As online education grows, respecting these preferences will be essential for maintaining students’ trust and creating ethical, data-informed learning environments.
