Providing insights into health data science education through artificial intelligence

Area of Science:

• Health Data Science (HDS)
• Educational Technology
• Artificial Intelligence in Education

Background:

• Health Data Science (HDS) is an emerging interdisciplinary field combining biological, clinical, and computational sciences.
• There is a critical need for healthcare professionals skilled in both health and data sciences.
• Analyzing student learning experiences in HDS is crucial for enhancing course design and pedagogical strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To apply artificial intelligence (AI) techniques to understand student learning tactics and strategies in a Health Data Science (HDS) massive open online course (MOOC).
• To identify effective learning behaviors and provide data-driven insights for improving HDS education.
• To offer pedagogical recommendations for course designers, instructors, and learners.

Main Methods:

• Utilized AI methods to analyze learning tactics and strategies of over 3,000 students in an HDS MOOC.
• Employed statistical tests to examine student engagement with various learning resources (e.g., readings, videos) and HDS topics.
• Categorized student learning strategies into Surface, Strategic, and Deep learners based on engagement levels.

Main Results:

• Identified four key learning tactics: connecting new information to prior knowledge, using assessments for evaluation, collaborative learning, and repetition for memorization.
• Discovered three distinct learning strategies: Surface (low engagement), Strategic (moderate engagement), and Deep (high engagement) learners.
• Found that successful students prioritize practical topics, project work, discussions, conceptual connections, and peer learning.

Conclusions:

• AI techniques offer valuable insights into Health Data Science (HDS) education.
• Pedagogical suggestions derived from AI analysis can enhance course design and the learning experience for HDS students.
• Findings support the integration of AI-driven analytics for optimizing educational strategies in specialized fields like HDS.