Clustering-based knowledge graphs and entity-relation representation improves the detection of at risk students

The nature of education has been transformed by technological advances and online learning platforms, providing educational institutions with more options than ever to thrive in a complex and competitive environment. However, they still face challenges such as academic underachievement, graduation delays, and student dropouts. Fortunately, by harnessing student data from institution databases and online platforms, it becomes possible to predict the academic performance of individual students at an early stage. In this study, we utilized knowledge graphs (KG), clustering, and machine learning (ML) techniques on data related to students in the College of Information Technology at UAEU. To construct knowledge graphs and visualize students’ performance at various checkpoints, we employed Neo4j-a high-performance NoSQL graph database. The findings demonstrate that incorporating clustered knowledge graphs with machine learning reduces predictive errors, enhances classification accuracy, and effectively identifies students at risk of course failure. Additionally, the utilization of visualization methods facilitates communication and decision-making within educational institutions. The combination of KGs and ML empowers course instructors to rank students and provide personalized learning interventions based on individual performance and capabilities, allowing them to develop tailored remedial actions for at-risk students according to their unique profiles.