Register for the Next SoLAR Webinar, November 12 at 3 PM CET/9 AM EDT

Title: Addressing the Digital Divide to Support Learning Analytics Adoption in the Global South

In recent years, Learning Analytics (LA) has emerged as a powerful tool for enhancing educational practices, improving student outcomes, and informing policy decisions. However, the persistent digital divide often restricts the adoption of LA technologies, particularly in regions of the Global South. This talk explores the critical barriers that limit the widespread implementation of LA, including issues related to infrastructure, access to technology, and digital literacy. Focusing on practical solutions, we will discuss how addressing these challenges can foster more equitable access to data-driven insights and improve educational outcomes in under-resourced contexts. Drawing on case studies from the Brazilian Ministry of Education, this presentation will offer strategies for overcoming these barriers and reaching students in low-resource environments.

Presenter:

Rafael Ferreira Mello has a Ph.D. in computer science with research interests that span across learning analytics, generative AI and natural language processing. He is a Professor at the UFRPE and senior researcher at CESAR, where he holds the position of Course coordinator for the master and PhD program. In the last few years, Dr. Mello has supported adopting Learning Analytics techniques and tools in several institutions in Brazil. One recognition of his contributions is that Dr. Mello is the leading researcher at two national-level projects, funded by the Brazilian Ministry of Education, aiming the development of (i) natural language processing and learning analytics techniques to enhance students written productions and (ii) Learning Analytics Dashboards to support decision-making regarding the national education plan. Moreover, he has worked on several multinational research projects, which involve institutional and organizational partners in Europe, Australia, and Latin America. He has published in the leading international journals and conference proceedings in the fields of his research. He also served as an assistant editor and reviewer for several journals and conferences, including the International Learning Analytics & Knowledge Conference, Journal of Learning Analytics, Computers and Education, British Journal of Educational Technology, and Internet and Higher Education.