- 2022Design
- 2023Completed
Background
Learning analytics and adaptive teaching aids are often described as an important part of future learning and education. Although the data collected can be used aggregated and anonymised to improve pedagogy or to adapt learning at an individual level, the use of learners' data may have limitations and consequences that are difficult to foresee. Currently, national authorities have little knowledge of risks for further policy development.
Objectives
The objective of the expert group is to assess pedagogical, ethical and legal issues of using digital learning analytics based on the data about student learning activities, to improve, directly or indirectly, their learning.
Description
An expert group for digital learning analysis was established in autumn 2021 to provide the Ministry of Education and Research with a better basis for decisions about digital learning analytics and adaptive teaching aids, exams and tests in lower and upper secondary education, higher education, and higher vocational education. It should also advise on the need for regulation and input for policy development and measures from the Ministry of Education and its subordinate directorates.
The task of the expert group is to examine:
- effects of digital learning analytics on learning and teaching;
- challenges and potential of digital learning analytics;
- regulations needed to provide appropriate support;
- competence needed in the education sectors to assess the use of digital learning analytics.
The expert group submitted the first interim report on 01 June 2022; final recommendations to the Ministry of Education are expected by 01 June 2023.
The final report with recommendations was published on 6 June 2023. The expert group presented four main recommendations to support high-quality digital learning analysis. The recommendations aimed at different levels of the education sector. For higher vocational education, the recommendations were:
- to clarify the legal basis for learning analysis, to determine when the processing of personal data in learning analysis is legal;
- to develop overall guidelines for good and responsible learning analysis, facilitate good personal protection practices and conduct proper learning analysis that promotes students' learning and increases the quality of education.
Bodies responsible
- Ministry of Education and Research (KD)
Target groups
Learners
- Learners in upper secondary, including apprentices
- Young people (15-29 years old)
- Adult learners
Thematic categories
Modernising VET offer and delivery
This thematic category looks at what and how individuals learn, how learning content and learning outcomes in initial and continuing VET are defined, adapted and updated. First and foremost, it examines how VET standards, curricula, programmes and training courses are updated and modernised or new ones created. Updated and renewed VET content ensures that learners acquire a balanced mix of competences that address modern demands, and are more closely aligned with the realities of the labour market, including key competences, digital competences and skills for green transition and sustainability, both sector-specific and across sectors. Using learning outcomes as a basis is important to facilitate this modernisation, including modularisation of VET programmes. Updating and developing teaching and learning materials to support the above is also part of the category.
The thematic category continues to focus on strengthening high-quality and inclusive apprenticeships and work-based learning in real-life work environments and in line with the European framework for quality and effective apprenticeships. It looks at expanding apprenticeship to continuing vocational training and at developing VET programmes at EQF levels 5-8 for better permeability and lifelong learning and to support the need for higher vocational skills.
This thematic category also focuses on VET delivery through a mix of open, digital and participative learning environments, including workplaces conducive to learning, which are flexible, more adaptable to the ways individuals learn, and provide more access and outreach to various groups of learners, diversifying modes of learning and exploiting the potential of digital learning solutions and blended learning to complement face-to-face learning.
Centres of vocational excellence that connect VET to innovation and skill ecosystems and facilitate stronger cooperation with business and research also fall into this category.
This thematic sub-category is about the way learners learn, how the learning is delivered to them, and by what means. Programmes become more accessible through a combination of adaptable and flexible formats (e.g. face-to-face, digital and/or blended learning), through digital learning platforms that allow better outreach, especially for vulnerable groups and for learners in geographically remote or rural areas.
Subsystem
Further reading
Country
Type of development
Cedefop, & ReferNet. (2025). Expert group for digital learning analysis: Norway. In Cedefop, & ReferNet. (2025). Timeline of VET policies in Europe (2024 update) [Online tool].
https://www.cedefop.europa.eu/de/tools/timeline-vet-policies-europe/search/43647