EECS academics lead university-wide project to transform student engagement with learning analytics

In August 2025, Dr Usman Naeem (Reader in Computer Science Education) and Dr Vindya Wijeratne (Reader in Computer Engineering) launched their project, Empowering Educators to Embed Learner Engagement Analytics in Curriculum Design. The year-long project, funded by the Queen Mary President and Principal’s Fund for Educational Excellence, will extend across all three faculties, equipping educators with the tools and confidence to integrate learner analytics and gamification into teaching.

The initiative addresses a common challenge in higher education: while many learning analytics projects focus on easily measurable behaviours such as video watch time or attendance, these often fail to capture deeper learning outcomes. Instead, Dr Naeem and Dr Wijeratne’s approach ensures that analytics are tied to meaningful course goals. For example, measuring students’ participation in optional quizzes or debates offers far greater insight into critical thinking development than attendance data alone.

Central to the project is the use of Level Up, a Moodle plug-in on QMPlus that gamifies learning through experience points (XP), milestones, and digital badges. By integrating features such as completion tracking and rewards, educators can transform traditional modules into interactive, motivating learning environments.

The project is distinctive in several ways:

• Data-driven interventions: Using real-time engagement data to adapt teaching and identify at-risk students early.
• Gamification for motivation: Harnessing intrinsic and extrinsic incentives to foster active participation and self-directed learning.
• Humanising education: Embedding culturally relevant and relatable content into weekly activities to create inclusive learning spaces.

This innovation promises to benefit both students and staff by making learning more personalised, engaging, and impactful. After initial setup, much of the system is automated, ensuring that ongoing enhancements are both sustainable and scalable.

Reflecting on the project, Dr Naeem and Dr Wijeratne emphasised its potential to set a new precedent at Queen Mary: one where data and pedagogy combine to create a more responsive, supportive, and inspiring learning environment for all students.

EECS are proud to lead this initiative in collaboration with colleagues from the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences (Jo Elliott, Maryam Malekigorji), Queen Mary Faculty of Science and Engineering (Habiba Akter, Dr. Mahesha Samaratunga (SFHEA), Dimitris Kalogiros), Queen Mary Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (Georgy (Gueorgui) Petrov, Dr Sevil Yesiloglu) and Megan J. from the Technology Enhanced Learning Team.

For more on the President and Principal’s Fund for Educational Excellence, visit: Queen Mary Academy – Educational Excellence Fund