Data Science and Applications Lab

Educational Data Mining

Educational Data Mining (EDM) is an interdisciplinary field that focuses on the development and application of data mining, machine learning, and statistical techniques to analyze and extract valuable insights from the vast amounts of data generated in educational settings. This data can include student demographics, academic performance, online learning behavior, and social interactions, among other sources. By applying data-driven methodologies, EDM aims to enhance the understanding of various educational processes, ultimately contributing to improved learning outcomes, teaching strategies, and educational policy. Key areas of our exploration within EDM include:

1. Student modeling: Developing predictive models to understand individual learning trajectories, identify at-risk students, and offer personalized learning experiences specially in Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs)
2. Graph mining and analysis: Examining the structure and dynamics of interactions among eductional entities (e.g., students and courses), with the aim of identifying the role of peer influence and collaboration in learning processes.
3. Learning analytics: Analyzing and visualizing student data to uncover patterns, trends, and correlations, which can inform instructional design, curriculum development, and real-time intervention strategies.
4. Teachers in Social Media: A key area of exploration within EDM involves studying teachers' presence and interactions on social media platforms. This research can help identify the role of social media in professional development, collaboration, and the exchange of teaching resources and strategies.

Educational Data Mining has the potential to transform the way we approach teaching and learning, by providing valuable insights into the complex processes underlying education and enabling data-driven decision-making to improve educational outcomes for students.

Sample publications: (1) (2) (3) (4) (5)

Social Media Mining

Social Media Mining involves the representation, analysis, and extraction of meaningful patterns from the Big Data generated by social media platforms. This project aims to examine social media mining from multiple perspectives, including:

1. Making sense of user-generated content: Developing techniques and algorithms to process, understand, and extract insights from the predominantly text-based data created by social media users.
2. Investigating friendship patterns: Analyzing the connections and interactions between users to understand the dynamics of online relationships and how they influence social media behavior.
3. Information credibility: One crucial aspect of social media mining is evaluating information credibility, which involves investigating and mitigating the spread of misinformation and disinformation on social media platforms. Our research team focuses on developing cutting-edge algorithms and tools to identify, assess, and counteract the proliferation of false or misleading information on social media. By analyzing the complex interplay between content, users, and networks, we seek to better understand the factors that contribute to the spread of misinformation and disinformation, as well as their impact on public opinion and decision-making.
4. Applying and revising social theories: Utilizing existing social theories to explain phenomena observed on social media, while refining and updating these theories based on new findings.
5. Exploring additional aspects of social media mining: Delving into other facets of social media mining, such as sentiment analysis, trend identification, and the influence of social media on various industries.

By studying social media mining from these diverse angles, we aim to gain a comprehensive understanding of how users interact with social media platforms, the nature of the content they produce, and the broader implications of these interactions on society.

Sample publications: (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)

Cross-Disciplinary Applications of Data Science in Science and Engineering:

Our research group actively engages in collaborations with various research teams both within USU and externally, focusing on interdisciplinary projects across a diverse range of STEM fields. These collaborations allow us to apply data science techniques to address complex challenges in domains such as:

1. Climate Science: We work with climate scientists to develop predictive models and analyze vast amounts of climate data. Our research aims to improve our understanding of climate patterns, trends, and potential impacts on natural systems and human society.
2. Engineering Education: Partnering with engineering educators, we apply data science to analyze student performance data, learning behaviors, and pedagogical strategies. Our objective is to enhance teaching methodologies and tailor educational experiences to individual learners' needs.
3. Civil Engineering: In collaboration with civil engineering researchers, we employ data science techniques to analyze large-scale infrastructure data, optimize structural design, and monitor the health of critical infrastructure systems, ultimately contributing to more resilient and sustainable built environments.
4. Additional STEM Fields: Our interdisciplinary approach extends to other STEM fields, where we leverage data science to address domain-specific challenges, including data-driven modeling, pattern recognition, and optimization.

By fostering these interdisciplinary collaborations, our research group aims to expand the applications of data science in science and engineering, contributing to the advancement of knowledge and innovation in these critical domains..