Guiding the choice of learning dashboard visualizations : linking dashboard design and data visualization concepts

Learning dashboards are known to improve decision-making by visualizing learning processes and helping to track where learning processes evolve as expected and where potential issues (may) occur. Despite the popularity of such dashboards, little is known theoretically on the design principles. Our earlier research reports on the gap between dashboards' design and learning science concepts, subsequently proposing a conceptual model that links dashboard design principles with learning process and feedback concepts. This paper extends our previous work by mapping the dashboard design and data/information visualization concepts. Based on a conceptual analysis and empirical evidence from earlier research, recommendations are proposed to guide the choice of visual representations of data in learning dashboards corresponding to the intended feedback typology