ouladFormat R package: Preparing the Open University Learning Analytics Dataset for analysis

Abstract: Analysing educational data sets is fundamental to many fields of research focusing on improving student learning. However, large educational data sets are complex and can involve intensive preprocessing. These obstacles can be overcome through the development of educational tools which simplifies the preprocessing stages of analysis. The Open University Learning Analytics Dataset (OULAD), available online, contains data from 32,593 students across 22 module presentations at the Open University. This paper introduces the R software package ouladFormat; which loads and formats the OULAD for data analysis. The paper summarizes the ouladFormat R package and explains the different functions within the package. In addition, two case studies are provided which discuss how the OULAD and ouladFormat R package could be used when preparing for an educational study, and in the early identification of at-risk students. The package increases the accessibility of the OULAD for researchers, practitioners, and educators, and supports reproducibility and comparability of educational studies.