12 heuristics for learning analytics in simulation-based professional learning

12 heuristics for learning analytics in simulation-based professional learning | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article 12 heuristics for learning analytics in simulation-based professional learning Susan Harrington, Charlott Sellberg This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-6991737/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract This study aims to develop a set of heuristics tailored for evaluating learning analytics in simulation-based professional learning, focusing the following research questions: (1) What heuristics are appropriate for evaluating learning analytics in simulation-based professional learning contexts? (2) How can theoretical frameworks and empirical findings be combined in the development of such heuristics? (3) How can expert evaluation inform their refinement and applicability? The study combines a top-down approach, drawing on a theoretical framework for learning experience design, with a bottom-up analysis of empirical findings from prior studies in the context of a design project. An initial set of heuristics was iteratively reviewed and refined in collaboration with experts in user and learning experience design. The outcome is a detailed heuristic framework that supports the evaluation of learning analytics in simulation-based settings, accounting for the technological, pedagogical, and social dimensions of professional learning. heuristics heuristic evaluation learning experience design professional learning simulation-based training human-centred learning analytics Full Text Additional Declarations The authors declare no competing interests. All participants in the study were provided with, and signed, informed consent forms. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-6991737","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":477397185,"identity":"2eab311d-4a34-4e31-9868-b23fde11c1f6","order_by":0,"name":"Susan Harrington","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAABFElEQVRIiWNgGAWjYPCCA0DM2ABm8sMYRGpJYGCQbGBsJEbPASgN1GJwgIA18jPSH34uYLgjbz77cNvDrz9s8oyPH25/wPDrMIN8O3adBjdyjKVnMDwznHMusd1YJiGt2OxMYmMDY99hBoMzB7BrkchhkOZhOMw4g4exTVoi4XDitgMgLT1ALRIJuBz2+DdQiz1cy+b+hxAt8vMfYPfMjQQzkC2JIC2SH4BaNkgAbWH4cRgohV2HwZk3ZtY8BoeTwbYwpKUlzrjxsHFGYkM6j8EZHA5rT398m6fisO0MHvZnkj9sbBL7+9MffPjwx1pOvh2796F2QShmHphAYhsDDy7FKIDxB5z5hygNo2AUjIJRMDIAAEWEZAn9yO8UAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7135-4613","institution":"University of Gothenburg","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Susan","middleName":"","lastName":"Harrington","suffix":""},{"id":477397476,"identity":"d7bab533-cb43-4149-8b6d-68b0af98473b","order_by":1,"name":"Charlott Sellberg","email":"","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7451-6208","institution":"University of Gothenburg","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Charlott","middleName":"","lastName":"Sellberg","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2025-06-27 12:44:05","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":{"humanSubjects":false,"vertebrateSubjects":false,"conflictsOfInterestStatement":false,"humanSubjectEthicalGuidelines":false,"humanSubjectConsent":false,"humanSubjectClinicalTrial":false,"humanSubjectCaseReport":false,"vertebrateSubjectEthicalGuidelines":false},"doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-6991737/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-6991737/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":85708776,"identity":"be7a0efc-f24a-4f02-914c-f5cd10014887","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-07-01 01:55:43","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":528242,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"12heuristicsforlearninganalyticsinsimulationbasedprofessionallearning.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-6991737/v1_covered_38a1377b-3b5b-48fd-87b1-81b056f2d587.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"\u003cp\u003eThe authors declare no competing interests.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll participants in the study were provided with, and signed, informed consent forms.\u003c/p\u003e","formattedTitle":"\u003cp\u003e12 heuristics for learning analytics in simulation-based professional learning\u003c/p\u003e","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":true,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"University of Gothenburg","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"heuristics, heuristic evaluation, learning experience design, professional learning, simulation-based training, human-centred learning analytics ","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-6991737/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-6991737/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eThis study aims to develop a set of heuristics tailored for evaluating learning analytics in simulation-based professional learning, focusing the following research questions: (1) What heuristics are appropriate for evaluating learning analytics in simulation-based professional learning contexts? 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