Big Data Approach and Dimensions for Educational Industry

Abstract

The dynamic environment we live in now is not driven by any specific business or product – the real engine for change are the customers. Businesses are using constantly growing amounts of information. In this respect they need adequate storage resources and innovative methods and technologies for managing the data and information. The phenomenon Big Data appears to describe the next generation of new data sources that will support the next level of information management and analytics penetration in business, academia and government. These solutions will radically change the way organizations work and manage their business. Big Data approach appears because data processing and analytical needs today are not possible within the traditional environment. Some of the Big Data source characteristics refer to the new types of data sources, the automatic generation by a machine and the absence of standardised and concretely designed way of streaming data. Big Data approach grows with generated bulks of data, but it is not related only to data volume. Big Data definitions are generally accepted to be explained with the substance of the three Vs - velocity, variety, and volume. This paper presents the most exhaustive aspects of Big Data and presents additional four Vs - veracity, variability, visualization, and value. It is hard to identify a unique reason for the explosive growth of data. The paper focuses on the four main directions of change in the world of data - business model transformation, globalization, personalization of services, and new sources of data. The role of Big Data is changing the whole world. Big Data could give unique opportunities for the educational sector development as well, and improvements could scale – from a single school, to governmental directions and satisfaction of the labour market. Big Data could support changes in education that would revolutionize all educational aspects - the way students learn, teachers teach, administrators manage, employers select and develop staff.