The Use of E-learning Tools and Log Data in a Course on Basic Logic

This paper is a study of the use of e-learning tools and log data in evaluating and further developing a course on basic logic. It is a continuation of earlier studies involving practical experiments with students of communication from Aalborg University. Two tools are involved: Syllog for training syllogistic reasoning and Proplog for training basic propositional logic. The data are logged anonymously during the course, as well as during the individual exam. Using the log data, we have obtained important insights into the effects of the lectures and exercises. We argue that the log data from using the two tools can be transformed into useful learning analytics. Careful studies based on log data can provide useful information on how the quality of the course. On this basis, it can be suggested how the course can be improved using the learning analytics based on the log data. This is evident from studies carried out over seven to eight years using log data from the use of Syllog and recent studies based on log data from the use of Proplog, also show how insight based on the log data may lead us to improvements of the course. During the present study we have developed a method by which we can determine whether the students will handle one kind of symbolic logic test better than another.