Advances in learning analytics and educational data mining

The growing interest in recent years towards Learning An- alytics (LA) and Educational Data Mining (EDM) has enabled novel ap- proaches and advancements in educational settings. The wide variety of research and practice in this context has enforced important possibilities and applications from adaptation and personalization of Technology En- hanced Learning (TEL) systems to improvement of instructional design and pedagogy choices based on students needs. LA and EDM play an im- portant role in enhancing learning processes by oering innovative methods of development and integration of more personalized, adaptive, and inter- active educational environments. This has motivated the organization of the ESANN 2015 Special Session in Advances in Learning Analytics and Educational Data Mining. Here, a review of research and practice in LA and EDM is presented accompanied by the most central methods, bene- ts, and challenges of the eld. Additionally, this paper covers a review of novel contributions into the Special Session