Learning Analytics-Based Student Engagement Profiling Using Moodle Activity Logs Across Multiple Courses

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.71200/nexural.v1.i1.259

Keywords:

Learning analytics, Moodle logs, Student engagement, Educational data mining, Clustering

Abstract

Learning management systems generate detailed event logs, yet these data are often underused for monitoring student engagement. This study develops a learning analytics workflow for profiling engagement from Moodle activity logs collected from 20 courses. The raw dataset contained 402,290 records recorded between 19 February 2025 and 2 June 2025. After removing administrative, reporting, and system-maintenance events, 369,592 learner-generated events from 760 users were analyzed. The method consisted of timestamp parsing, course mapping, anonymization, event-category mapping, feature engineering, engagement scoring, and K-Means clustering. Eight behavioral indicators were constructed, including total events, active days, course views, module views, quiz activity, assignment activity, resource access, and event diversity. The results show that quiz-related interactions dominated the logs, followed by system course views and assignment activities. Three engagement profiles were identified: low, moderate, and high engagement. The proposed workflow provides an interpretable basis for course monitoring and early identification of learners who may require academic support, while avoiding unsupported claims about academic achievement when final-grade data are unavailable.

References

D. Rotelli and A. Monreale, "Processing and understanding Moodle log data and their temporal dimension," Journal of Learning Analytics, vol. 10, no. 2, pp. 126-141, 2023, doi: 10.18608/jla.2023.7867.

N. Bergdahl, M. Bond, J. Sjöberg, M. Dougherty, and E. Oxley, "Unpacking student engagement in higher education learning analytics: A systematic review," International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education, vol. 21, art. 63, 2024, doi: 10.1186/s41239-024-00493-y.

N. A. Johar, S. N. Kew, Z. Tasir, and E. Koh, "Learning analytics on student engagement to enhance students' learning performance: A systematic review," Sustainability, vol. 15, no. 10, art. 7849, 2023, doi: 10.3390/su15107849.

S. Fan, L. Chen, M. Nair, S. Garg, S. Yeom, G. Kregor, Y. Yang, and Y. Wang, "Revealing impact factors on student engagement: Learning analytics adoption in online and blended courses in higher education," Education Sciences, vol. 11, no. 10, art. 608, 2021, doi: 10.3390/educsci11100608.

Q. Wang and A. Mousavi, "Which log variables significantly predict academic achievement? A systematic review and meta-analysis," British Journal of Educational Technology, vol. 54, no. 1, pp. 142-191, 2023, doi: 10.1111/bjet.13282.

C. Lu and M. Cutumisu, "Online engagement and performance on formative assessments mediate the relationship between attendance and course performance," International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education, vol. 19, art. 2, 2022, doi: 10.1186/s41239-021-00307-5.

R. M. Santos and R. Henriques, "Accurate, timely, and portable: Course-agnostic early prediction of student performance from LMS logs," Computers and Education: Artificial Intelligence, vol. 5, art. 100175, 2023, doi: 10.1016/j.caeai.2023.100175.

G. Ramaswami, T. Susnjak, and A. Mathrani, "Effectiveness of a learning analytics dashboard for increasing student engagement levels," Journal of Learning Analytics, vol. 10, no. 3, pp. 115-134, 2023, doi: 10.18608/jla.2023.7935.

S. Kim, S. Cho, J. Y. Kim, and D.-J. Kim, "Statistical assessment on student engagement in asynchronous online learning using the k-means clustering algorithm," Sustainability, vol. 15, no. 3, art. 2049, 2023, doi: 10.3390/su15032049.

D. Amo, S. Cea, N. M. Jimenez, P. Gómez, and D. Fonseca, "A privacy-oriented local web learning analytics JavaScript library with a configurable schema to analyze any edtech log: Moodle's case study," Sustainability, vol. 13, no. 9, art. 5085, 2021, doi: 10.3390/su13095085.

Z. Pan, L. Biegley, A. Taylor, and H. Zheng, "A systematic review of learning analytics: Incorporated instructional interventions on learning management systems," Journal of Learning Analytics, vol. 11, no. 2, pp. 52-72, 2024, doi: 10.18608/jla.2023.8093.

M. Fazil, A. Rísquez, and C. Halpin, "A novel deep learning model for student performance prediction using engagement data," Journal of Learning Analytics, vol. 11, no. 2, pp. 23-41, 2024, doi: 10.18608/jla.2024.7985.

M. R. Marcolino, T. R. Porto, T. T. Primo, R. Targino, V. Ramos, E. M. Queiroga, R. Munoz, and C. Cechinel, "Student dropout prediction through machine learning optimization: Insights from Moodle log data," Scientific Reports, vol. 15, art. 9840, 2025, doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-93918-1.

L. Chen, X. Geng, M. Lu, A. Shimada, and M. Yamada, "How students use learning analytics dashboards in higher education: A learning performance perspective," SAGE Open, vol. 13, no. 3, 2023, doi: 10.1177/21582440231192151.

H. M. M. Ahmed, H. A. El-Sabagh, and D. M. Elbourhamy, "Effect of gamified, mobile, cloud-based learning management system on student engagement and achievement," International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education, vol. 22, art. 49, 2025, doi: 10.1186/s41239-025-00541-1.

M. Khalil, P. Prinsloo, and S. Slade, "The use and application of learning theory in learning analytics: A scoping review," Journal of Computing in Higher Education, vol. 35, pp. 573-594, 2023, doi: 10.1007/s12528-022-09340-3.

Y. Soepriyanto, R. P. Nugroho, M. H. A. Nahri, D. W. Kesuma, and M. Setiasih, "From logs to insights: A comprehensive framework for data-driven learning insights," Jurnal Inovasi Teknologi Pendidikan, vol. 12, no. 1, pp. 40-49, 2025, doi: 10.21831/jitp.v12i1.77432.

Downloads

Published

2026-05-24

How to Cite

Rahman, A., & Destiarini. (2026). Learning Analytics-Based Student Engagement Profiling Using Moodle Activity Logs Across Multiple Courses. International Journal of Nexural Intelligence, 1(1), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.71200/nexural.v1.i1.259

Similar Articles

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.