Skip to main content
To KTH's start page

Word list

There are a lot of different concepts used when discussing Data-Informed Education. Here you can find definitions of a few relevant words or concepts. Swedish translations are provided and some of the words include a reference.

Click on the word or concept to get to the definition.
Word or concept Swedish translation
Academic Analytics Lärosätesanalys
Big Data Stordata
Canvas Data 2 Canvas Data 2
Canvas New Analytics Canvas New Analytics
Data Collection Datainsamling
Data Mining Datautvinning
Data Processing Databehandling
Data Readiness Databeredskap
Data Recording Dataregistrering
Data Visualisations Datavisualiseringar
Data-Driven Decision-Making Datadrivet beslutsfattande
Data-Informed Decision-Making Datainformerat beslutsfattande
Data-Informed Education (DInE) Datainformerad utbildning
Data-Informed Instruction Datainformerad undervisning
Data-Informed Learning (DIL) Datainformerat lärande
Data-Informed Teaching Datainformerad lärarpraktik
Descriptive Analytics Deskriptiva analyser
DInE Code of Practice Uppförandekod för DInE
DInE Consent Form Samtyckesformulär för DInE
DInE Policy Policy för DInE
DInE Strategy Strategi för DInE
Dynamic Data Dynamisk data
Identifiable Data Identifierbar data
Informed Learning Model Informerad lärandemodell
Learning Analytics Lärandeanalys
Learning Environment Lärandemiljö
Machine Learning Maskininlärning
Personal Data Personuppgift
Process Mining Processutvinning
Student Centricity Studentcentrering
Teacher Centricity Lärarcentrering
Teacher Inquiry Undersökande lärarpraktik
Teaching Analytics Undervisningsanalys

Definitions

Below are definitions for the words or concepts listed above. Some definitions include a reference page. 

Academic Analytics

The process of evaluating and analysing organisational data received from university systems for reporting and decision-making reasons.

Reference for definition (er.educause.edu)

Big Data

Data sets that are so large and complex that they are difficult to process with common ICT applications. In most definitions, big data is described as comprehensive (it has a large volume), heterogeneous (it comes from different sources and in many different formats) and collected in near real-time. In some definitions, it is also emphasised that data must be reliable.

Reference for definition (op.europa.eu)

Canvas Data 2

Canvas Data 2 provides streamlined, bulk access to low-latency data for customers and partners to enable data warehouses and learning analytics.

Reference for definition (community.canvaslms.com)

Canvas New Analytics

New Analytics provides interactive graphs and tables that allow instructors and students to track data related to course grades, activity, and communication. Instructors can track student grades, submission status, weekly course activity, individual student participation, and online attendance.

Reference for definition (community.canvaslms.com)

Data Collection

The process of gathering the data; compiling data, and data retrieval.

Reference for definition (op.europa.eu)

Data Mining

The practice of analysing large databases to generate new information.

Data Processing

The collection and manipulation of digital data to produce meaningful information.

Reference for definition (op.europa.eu)

Data Readiness

The concept of data readiness corresponds to how ready data is for use in practical applications, for example in terms of availability, quality, structure, integrity and security, relevance, standardization.

Data Recording

Data acquisition; data capture; recording of data.

Reference for definition (op.europa.eu)

Data Visualisations

The representation of data in graphical formats such as charts, graphs, dashboards, or infographics. This makes it easier to see trends, recognise relationships, and uncover data-driven insights from large, complex data sets. These insights can increase efficiency, revenue, and profits for the organisation.

Data-Driven Decision-Making

Using facts, metrics, and data to guide strategic business decisions that align with your goals, objectives, and initiatives.

Reference for definition (tableau.com)

Data-Informed Decision-Making

Using facts, metrics, and data as a supporting resource to guide strategic business decisions that align with your goals, objectives, and initiatives.

Data-Informed Education (DInE)

The practice of using educational data, analytics, and insights to enhance teaching, learning, and decision-making while ensuring that human expertise, pedagogical principles, and contextual understanding remain central to the process.

In contrast to data-driven education, which relies solely on quantitative metrics, data-informed education integrates data insights and professional judgment to make ethical and effective educational decisions.

Data-Informed Instruction

A robust set of ongoing practices that focuses on assessing student learning, analysing assessment data, and adjusting instruction in response to the assessment data in intentional cycles (daily, weekly, etc).

Reference for definition (cde.state.co.us)

Data-Informed Learning

Data-Informed Learning (DIL) is a student-centred process within Data-Informed Education (DInE) that empowers learners to actively engage with data about their own learning to make informed decisions, reflect on progress, and adapt strategies for progress. It supports the development of data literacy and self-regulated learning, enabling students to interpret feedback, set goals, and take ownership of their educational journey.

DIL emphasizes student agency, ensuring that the use of data is guided by learners' needs, preferences, and contexts. Ethical considerations such as privacy, security, and consent are centred on the student, ensuring that DIL benefits the student.

Reference for definition (asistdl.onlinelibrary.wiley.com)

Data-Informed Teaching

Data-Informed Teaching (DIT) is a teacher-centred approach within Data-Informed Education (DInE) that leverages educational data to support continuous instructional improvement through reflective practice and professional judgment. At its core, DIT is a process that supports teacher inquiry, empowering educators to pose pedagogical questions, explore evidence, and make informed decisions about teaching strategies and learning environments.

Rather than prescribing actions based solely on statistics and metrics, DIT prioritizes teacher agency, contextual understanding, and ethical responsibility, specifically, the students’ privacy, data security, and educational relevance. It embraces a student-cantered ethos while recognizing that meaningful, sustainable improvement in teaching begins with the informed insights and needs of educators.

Descriptive Analytics

Summarising and interpreting historical data to gain insights into events, patterns, and trends in education. It involves the exploration and examination of data through various statistical techniques, visualisations, and KPI reports to provide a clear understanding of what has happened. This provides a foundation for decision-making, performance evaluation, and operational improvements.

Reference for definition (qlik.com)

DInE Code of Practice

Set of instructions setting out the responsibilities of educational institutions to ensure that DInE is carried out responsibly, appropriately and effectively.

Reference for definition (jisc.ac.uk)

DInE Consent Form

A user's explicit permission to collect, store, process, and potentially further share their data. The user must be made aware of how the data is collected, and what will be done with it.

DInE Policy

A set of guiding principles, rules, or courses of action adopted by the organisation, or institution to achieve specific goals of DInE. It provides a structured framework for decision-making and helps ensure consistency, accountability, and alignment with broader objectives.

DInE Strategy

A plan of action designed to achieve a long-term or overall aim of DInE.

Dynamic Data

Data subject to frequent or real-time updates, in particular because of their volatility or rapid obsolescence. Dynamic data is contrasted with static data.

Reference for definition (op.europa.eu)

Identifiable Data

The data subjects are identifiable if they can be directly or indirectly identified, especially by reference to an identifier such as a name, an identification number, location data, an online identifier or one of several special characteristics, which expresses the physical, physiological, genetic, mental, commercial, cultural or social identity of these natural persons.

Reference for definition (gdpr-info.eu)

Informed Learning Model

A model that suggests ways to enable students to use data that focus on learning within their discipline. Informed learning involves using information creatively and reflectively to enhance learning. It is learning that draws on the different ways in which we use information in academic, professional, and community life.

Learning Analytics

Measurement, collection, analysis and reporting of data about learners and their contexts for purposes of understanding and optimising learning and the environments in which it occurs.

Reference for definition (solaresearch.org)

Learning Environment

Learning environment refers to the diverse physical locations, contexts, and cultures in which students learn. Since students may learn in a wide variety of settings, such as outside-of-school locations and outdoor environments, the term is often used as a more accurate or preferred alternative to classroom, which has more limited and traditional connotations (e.g., a room with rows of desks and a chalkboard).

The term also encompasses the culture of a school or class - its presiding ethos and characteristics, including how individuals interact with and treat one another - as well as the ways in which teachers may organize an educational setting to facilitate learning.

Reference for definition (edglossary.org)

Machine Learning

The use and development of computer systems that are able to learn and adapt without following explicit instructions by using algorithms and statistical models to analyse and draw inferences from patterns in data.

Reference for definition (devopscon.io)

Personal Data

Any information that can be directly attributed to an individual (data subject).

Reference for definition (agile-edu.eun.org)

Process Mining

A family of techniques for analysing event data to understand and improve operational processes.

Reference for definition (link.springer.com)

Student Centricity

The student-centric approach fosters a learning environment where students feel seen, heard, and supported, which also focuses on answering student questions.

Teacher Centricity

Teacher centricity fosters answering teachers' concerns about pedagogy and didactics of teaching to improve the quality of teaching.

Reference for definition (doi.org)

Teacher Inquiry

A process in which teachers identify questions for inquiry in their practice and then design a process for collecting evidence about student learning that informs their subsequent learning designs.

Reference for definition (doi.org)

Teaching Analytics

Teaching Analytics (TA) combines teaching expertise, visual analytics and design-based research to support teacher’s diagnostic pedagogical ability to use data and evidence to improve the quality of teaching.

Reference for definition (doi.org)