Selection of academic tutors in higher education using decision trees

Abstract

ABSTRACT

In this paper, we present a method for the tutoring process in order to improve academic tutoring in higher education. The method includes identifying the main skills of tutors in an automated manner using decision trees, one of the most used algorithms in the machine learning community for solving several real-world problems with high accuracy. In our study, the decision tree algorithm was able to identify those skills and personal affinities between students and tutors. Experiments were carried out using a data set of 277 students and 19 tutors, which were selected by random sampling and voluntary participation, respectively. Preliminary results show that the most important attributes for tutors are communication, self-direction and digital skills. At the same time, we introduce a tutoring process where the tutor assignment is based on these attributes, assuming that it can help to strengthen the student's skills demanded by today's society. In the same way, the decision tree obtained can be used to create cluster of tutors and clusters of students based on their personal abilities and affinities using other machine learning algorithms. The application of the suggested tutoring process could set the tone to see the tutoring process individually without linking it to processes of academic performance or school dropout.