In Conversation: Gulson, Anderson, & Prinsloo – Examining Theoretical Approaches and Future Directions for Ethics in Learning Analytics

In this ‘in conversation’ chapter we surface the role of theory in research on ethics in the field of learning analytics. We begin by reporting the emergence of theory-based discussions of ethics in the learning analytics literature during the first 5 years of the life of the field; and then highlight prominent theories in the literature since 2016 when the number of publications per year with a focus on ethical learning analytics increased markedly. However, the substantive work of the chapter is to share a conversation amongst three expert panel members Paul Prinsloo, Kalervo Gulson, and Theresa Anderson. In it, they examined various sociological horizons for fresh ideas that might newly shape the field’s metaethical questioning around the morality of educational data use. Stemming from this, they considered the likely impact a variety of standpoints could have on the range of principles and values that inform our data practices. All in all, it is a conversation that queries whether or not the theory we have is adequate for the current times, and suggests how it could be. A podcast of the conversation is available at https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/r5psLaA3MMb .