Using digital tools to solve pedagogical problems

Monitoring and evaluation methodologies in higher education must be adapted to goals and resources. A combination of quantitative and qualitative methods is most often used in order to obtain a balanced and reliable picture.

Quantitative methods involve analyzing data from systems such as Moodle LMS, where a teacher can track activity completion rates, average quiz scores, log-in frequency, or the number of assignments submitted. For example, a teacher may notice that students who participate more frequently in online forums perform better on final exams. Such findings allow for conclusions to be drawn about the relationship between engagement and success.

Qualitative methods complement this picture. Interviews and focus groups with students can reveal reasons why some do not actively participate or why they prefer certain tools. For example, students may state that forums are not motivating enough, but that interactive tools such as Mentimeter encourage greater involvement. Content analysis of written reflections can further reveal perceptions of the usefulness of digital tools.

One of the modern methodologies is learning analytics, which uses advanced algorithms to predict student behavior. For example, analyzing enrollment patterns can signal students at risk of dropping out of a course, giving teachers the opportunity to intervene in a timely manner.

Example from practice: in a course, a combination of quantitative data from Moodle LMS and qualitative interviews with students was used to evaluate the effectiveness of the introduction of video materials. Quantitative data showed that students view shorter video lessons more often, while qualitative insights explained that they are more transparent and easier to learn. Such an integrated approach enables a more precise and meaningful interpretation.