Big data and student engagement among vulnerable youth: A review

Vulnerable (e.g., LGBTQ, homeless, disabled, racial/ethnic minority, and/or poor) youth disproportionally report challenges at school compared to their majority counterparts, but we are not always sure of the best ways to support these students. How might big data help to ameliorate experiences for vulnerable students who are not part of the majority (e.g., White, middle class, straight)? We review current ways that using big data can promote student engagement specific to school experiences where vulnerable youth share a disproportional amount of burden. We review extant uses of big data to track, involve, and monitor student progress and attendance. Additionally, we review the potential privacy implications and threats to students' civil liberties.