LMS Logs and Student Performance: The Influence of Retaking a Course

In learning analytics applications, some of the most important data sources often include the activity of students in online platforms such as learning management systems. While the utility of logs extracted from these kinds of systems is undeniable, it is important to be aware that there may be contextual factors that can change how these data is interpreted. The study showcased in this paper analyzes the direct influence between the activity volume of students in a course, as given by Moodle LMS logs, and academic performance, in the form of the final grade obtained. Moreover, we perform separate observations of this influence depending on whether the student is enrolled in the course for the first time, or if they are retaking it after failing to pass in previous academic years. The results show that a correlation exists between raw volume of interactions with the LMS and final grade, but only for first-time students. This correlation is nonexistent when considering retaking students.