The Scope of Multimodal Learning Analytics in K–8: A Systematic Review

This scoping review aims to provide an overview of how multimodal learning analytics has been applied in K–8 research and offers methodological insights and recommendations to bridge the gap between theory and practice. We identified 14 peer-reviewed empirical studies published between 2011 and 2023 through searches in relevant databases and reviews of journals that publish multimodal learning analytics–related research and publications from leading researchers in the field of multimodal learning analytics. The results revealed that 1) the application of multimodal learning analytics in K–8 research is varied; 2) even though studies explicitly stated how multimodal data were collected and analyzed, they rarely mentioned the data fusion techniques and its process, and ethics and transparency; and 3) multimodal learning analytics has the potential to improve learning outcomes, but more guidance and shared understanding are needed to conduct sound research using multimodal learning analytics. Implications and recommendations are provided.