# Students Behavioural Analysis in an Online Learning Environment Using Data Mining (ICIAfS)

**Authors:** I. P. Ratnapala, R. G. Ragel, S. Deegalla  
**arXiv:** [1412.7813](https://arxiv.org/abs/1412.7813)  
**Date:** 2014-12-25  
**Summary page:** https://www.summarizepaper.com/fr/paper/1412.7813v1/

## Abstract

The focus of this research was to use Educational Data Mining (EDM) techniques to conduct a quantitative analysis of students interaction with an e-learning system through instructor-led non-graded and graded courses. This exercise is useful for establishing a guideline for a series of online short courses for them. A group of 412 students' access behaviour in an e-learning system were analysed and they were grouped into clusters using K-Means clustering method according to their course access log records. The results explained that more than 40% from the student group are passive online learners in both graded and non-graded learning environments. The result showed that the difference in the learning environments could change the online access behaviour of a student group. Clustering divided the student population into five access groups based on their course access behaviour. Among these groups, the least access group (NG-41% and G-42%) and the highest access group (NG-9% and G-5%) could be identified very clearly due to their access variation from the rest of the groups.