Abhinava Barthakur

Teaching Strengths

Learning Analytics
Generative Artificial Intelligence in education
Educational assessment and evaluation
Data Mining

Dr Abhinava Barthakur

Research Fellow

School of Education

College of Education, Behavioural and Social Sciences

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD as Co-Supervisor only - email supervisor to discuss availability.

Available For Media Comment.

Abhinava Barthakur is a Senior Research Fellow in the School of Education at the University of Adelaide and a member of the Centre for Change and Complexity in Learning. His research sits at the intersection of learning analytics and artificial intelligence in education, with a focus on the measurement of complex competencies. Drawing on learning analytics and measurement theory, he develops human-centred assessment models that yield diagnostic evidence about student learning in higher education and in professional learning contexts. His current work examines the implications of generative AI for classroom practice, particularly conversational assessment. This line of work reframes assessment as an interactive process that elicits reasoning as it unfolds, shifting the emphasis away from high-stakes judgements derived from static artefacts. He completed his PhD at the University of South Australia in 2023 before joining the University of Adelaide as a postdoctoral fellow. He is Treasurer and an elected Executive member of the Society for Learning Analytics Research, and an Associate Editor of the Australasian Journal of Educational Technology.

Date Position Institution name
2024 - ongoing Associate Editor Australasian Journal of Educational Technology
2024 - ongoing Treasurer Society of Learning Analytics and Research

Date Institution name Country Title
University of South Australia Australia PhD

Year Citation
2026 Barthakur, A., Jovanović, J., Baker, R., Kovanović, V., Deneen, C. C., & Dawson, S. (2026). Assessing Patterns of Students’ Attainment of Professional Standards in Higher Education. Journal of Learning Analytics, 13(1), 42-56.
DOI Scopus2 WoS2
2026 Barthakur, A., Viberg, O., Kizilcec, R. F., Baker, R. S., & Dawson, S. (2026). Advancing 21st-Century Professional Competencies with Learning Analytics in the Age of Generative AI. Journal of Learning Analytics, 13(1), 1-6.
DOI
2026 Marrone, R., Randall, D., Kovanovic, V., Barthakur, A., Mottaghi, N., & De Laat, M. (2026). Evaluating Generative AI as a Supportive Analytic Partner in Qualitative Coding of Metacognitive Student Reflections. Journal of Educational Data Mining, 18(1), 318-340.
DOI
2026 Jayalath, V., Barthakur, A., Dawson, S., Tingey, J., Crase, L., & Kovanović, V. (2026). Leveraging GenAI models for curriculum analytics: A human-centred approach for curriculum mapping in higher education. Computers and Education Artificial Intelligence, 11, 100689.
DOI
2025 Marrone, R., Fowler, S., Bathakur, A., Dawson, S., Siemens, G., & Singh, C. (2025). Perceptions and perspectives of Australian school leaders on the integration of artificial intelligence in schools. School Leadership & Management, 45(1), 30-52.
DOI Scopus22 WoS18
2025 Marmolejo-Ramos, F., Bulut, O., Anunciaçáo, L., Marques, L., Barthakur, A., Kundrat, J., . . . Tejada, J. (2025). From human artefact to machine output: automating the “art” of psychological measurement. Journal of Psychology and AI, 1(1), 2561692-1-2561692-18.
DOI
2025 Shi, W., Barthakur, A., Kovanović, V., Stephenson, H., Siemens, G., & Han, X. (2025). Examining practicums within initial teacher education programs: Understanding the dimensions of professional development of pre-service teachers. Studies in Educational Evaluation, 85(101461), 13 pages.
DOI Scopus2 WoS2
2025 Mirriahi, N., Marrone, R., Barthakur, A., Gabriel, F., Colton, J., Yeung, T. N., . . . Kovanovic, V. (2025). The relationship between students' self-regulated learning skills and technology acceptance of GenAI. AUSTRALASIAN JOURNAL OF EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY, 41(2), 16-33.
DOI Scopus25 WoS18
2025 Barthakur, A., Marrone, R., Esnaashari, S., Kovanovic, V., & Dawson, S. (2025). Advancing Holistic Decision-Making Systems in Schools: Insights From Academic Research and Practical Applications. Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, 41(3), 13 pages.
DOI Scopus4 WoS1
2025 Kovanović, V., Barthakur, A., Joksimović, S., & Siemens, G. (2025). Why universities need to radically rethink exams in the age of AI. Nature, 648(8092), 35-37.
DOI Scopus4 WoS3 Europe PMC1
2025 Jovanović, J., Zamecnik, A., Barthakur, A., & Dawson, S. (2025). Curriculum analytics: exploring assessment objectives, types, and grades in a study program. Education and Information Technologies, 30(4), 4843-4866.
DOI Scopus3 WoS4
2024 Marrone, R., Lam, B., Barthakur, A., Brinkman, S., Dawson, S., & Gabriel, F. (2024). The Relationship between Wellbeing and Academic Achievement: A Comprehensive Cross-Sectional Analysis of System Wide Data From 2016-2019. Journal of Learning Analytics, 11(3), 123-141.
DOI Scopus6 WoS4
2024 Barthakur, A., Kovanović, V., Dawson, S., & Deneen, C. C. (2024). The application of curriculum analytics for improving assessments and quality assurance in higher education. Australasian Journal of Educational Technology, 40(4), 20-37.
DOI Scopus16 WoS10
2022 Barthakur, A., Kovanovic, V., Joksimovic, S., Zhang, Z., Richey, M., & Pardo, A. (2022). Measuring leadership development in workplace learning using automated assessments: Learning analytics and measurement theory approach. British Journal of Educational Technology, 53(6), 1842-1863.
DOI Scopus20 WoS13
2022 Barthakur, A., Joksimovic, S., Kovanovic, V., Corbett, F. C., Richey, M., & Pardo, A. (2022). Assessing the sequencing of learning objectives in a study program using evidence-based practice. Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education, 47(8), 1429-1443.
DOI Scopus11 WoS7
2022 Barthakur, A., Joksimovic, S., Kovanovic, V., Richey, M., & Pardo, A. (2022). Aligning objectives with assessment in online courses: Integrating learning analytics and measurement theory. Computers and Education, 190(104603), 16 pages.
DOI Scopus24 WoS13
2022 Barthakur, A., Joksimovic, S., Kovanovic, V., Mello, R. F., Taylor, M., Richey, M., & Pardo, A. (2022). Understanding Depth of Reflective Writing in Workplace Learning Assessments Using Machine Learning Classification. IEEE Transactions on Learning Technologies, 15(5), 567-578.
DOI Scopus21 WoS12
2022 McKay, J., Barthakur, A., & Joksimovic, S. (2022). Self-reflection on presentation skills and on the law in environmental law teaching: an Australian example. IUCN AEL Journal of Environmental Law, (12), 123-138.
2021 Barthakur, A., Kovanovic, V., Joksimovic, S., Siemens, G., Richey, M., & Dawson, S. (2021). Assessing program-level learning strategies in MOOCs. Computers in Human Behavior, 117(106674), 13 pages.
DOI Scopus46 WoS39
2020 Gabriel, F., Buckley, S., & Barthakur, A. (2020). The impact of mathematics anxiety on self-regulated learning and mathematical literacy. Australian Journal of Education, 64(3), 227-242.
DOI Scopus72 WoS48

Year Citation
2026 Jin, F. J. Y., Zhao, L., Barthakur, A., Baker, R., Dawson, S., & Joksimovic, S. (2026). Characterising Student Behaviours with AI-Generated Feedback in Higher Education. In E. G. Blanchard, G. Chen, M. Chi, & S. Isotani (Eds.), Communications in Computer and Information Science (Vol. 3031 CCIS, pp. 545-550). SPRINGER INTERNATIONAL PUBLISHING AG.
DOI
2025 Jayalath, V., Barthakur, A., Dawson, S., Tingey, J., Crase, L., & Kovanović, V. (2025). Scaling Curriculum Mapping in Higher Education: Evaluating Generative AI’s Role in Curriculum Analytics. In Lecture Notes in Computer Science (Vol. 15877 LNAI, pp. 294-308). Switzerland: Springer Nature Switzerland.
DOI Scopus9 WoS6
2024 Barthakur, A., Marrone, R., Esnaashari, S., Kovanovic, V., & Dawson, S. (2024). A Systematic Review of Studies on Decision-Making Systems for Teaching and Learning in K-12. In R. F. Mello, N. Rummel, I. Jivet, G. Pishtari, & J. A. R. Valiente (Eds.), Lecture Notes in Computer Science (Vol. 15159 LNCS, pp. 49-63). Austria: SPRINGER INTERNATIONAL PUBLISHING AG.
DOI Scopus1
2024 Zamecnik, A., Barthakur, A., Wang, H., & Dawson, S. (2024). Mapping employable skills in higher education curriculum using LLMs. In Event/exhibition information: 19th European Conference on Technology Enhanced Learning, EC-TEL, Krems, 16/09/2024-20/09/2024
Source details - Title: Technology Enhanced Learning for Inclusive and Equitable Quality Education (Vol. 15160 LNCS, pp. 18-32). Germany: Springer.
DOI Scopus11 WoS8
2023 Barthakur, A., Kovanovic, V., Joksimovic, S., & Pardo, A. (2023). Challenges in Assessments of Soft Skills: Towards Unobtrusive Approaches to Measuring Student Success. In V. Kovanovic, R. Azevedo, D. C. Gibson, & D. Ifenthaler (Eds.), Unobtrusive Observations of Learning in Digital Environments: Examining Behavior, Cognition, Emotion, Metacognition and Social Processes Using Learning Analytics (pp. 53-71). Switzerland: Springer International Publishing.
DOI
2022 Joksimovic, S., Dawson, S., Barthakur, A., Poquet, O., Wang, Y. E., Marmolejo Ramos, F., & Siemens, G. (2022). Mapping the landscape of social and emotional learning analytics. In Y. Wang (Ed.), Source details - Title: Social and Emotional Learning and Complex Skills Assessment. Advances in Analytics for Learning and Teaching (pp. 27-47). Switzerland: Springer.
DOI

Year Citation
2026 Shi, W., Barthakur, A., Kovanovic, V., Wang, J., Yan, L., & Han, X. (2026). Unpacking Co-Creation with AI: Understanding Students’ Creativity in a Game Design Course. In 16th International Learning Analytics and Knowledge Conference Lak 2026 (pp. 891-897). NORWAY, Bergen: ASSOC COMPUTING MACHINERY.
DOI
2026 Jayalath, V., Barthakur, A., Baker, R. S., Dawson, S., & Kovanovic, V. (2026). Capturing Professional Skill Development: A Curriculum Analytics Approach. In 16th International Learning Analytics and Knowledge Conference Lak 2026 (pp. 589-597). NORWAY, Bergen: ASSOC COMPUTING MACHINERY.
DOI Scopus1
2026 Ramakrishnan, C., Spence, N., Barthakur, A., Kovanović, V., Beath, A., Paparo, J., . . . Robson, M. (2026). PRISM: A Framework for Determining Individual Contributions in Group Assessments. In Proceedings of the 18th International Conference on Computer Supported Education (CSEDU 2026) Vol. 3 (pp. 2288-2295). Benidorm, Spain: SCITEPRESS - Science and Technology Publications.
DOI
2025 Divjak, B., Barthakur, A., Kovanović, V., & Svetec, B. (2025). The Impact of Learning Design on the Mastery of Learning Outcomes in Higher Education. In 15th International Conference on Learning Analytics and Knowledge Lak 2025 (pp. 726-737). US: ASSOC COMPUTING MACHINERY.
DOI Scopus5 WoS3
2024 Barthakur, A., Jovanovic, J., Zamecnik, A., Kovanovic, V., Xu, G., & Dawson, S. (2024). Towards Comprehensive Monitoring of Graduate Attribute Development: A Learning Analytics Approach in Higher Education. In ACM International Conference Proceeding Series (pp. 78-89). US: ASSOC COMPUTING MACHINERY.
DOI Scopus10 WoS8
2024 Taylor, M., Barthakur, A., Azad, A., Joksimovic, S., Zhang, X., & Siemens, G. (2024). Quantifying collaborative complex problem solving in classrooms using learning analytics. In ACM International Conference Proceeding Series (pp. 551-562). US: ACM.
DOI Scopus6 WoS4
2023 Barthakur, A., Dawson, S., & Kovanovic, V. (2023). Advancing leaner profiles with learning analytics: A scoping review of current trends and challenges. In ACM International Conference Proceeding Series (pp. 606-612). US: ASSOC COMPUTING MACHINERY.
DOI Scopus24 WoS3

Year Citation
2026 Barthakur, A., Pankiewicz, M., & Baker, R. S. (2026). Beyond compiler errors: An LLM-assisted, bottom-up approach to distilling knowledge components from LLM-generated feedback.
DOI
  • Learning-MAET: A Learning-aligned Model and Agentic Ecosystem for Tutoring, Gates Foundation, 01/11/2026 - 31/04/2029
  • Conversational assessments for higher education, College of Education, Behavioural and Social Sciences, Adelaide University, 01/09/2026 - 31/08/2027
  • AI to empower teaching and learning at the new Adelaide University, Vice-Chancellor, University of South Australia, 01/10/2025 - 30/09/2026
  • Levelling the Playing Field: Supporting Students Through Generative AI and Learner Profiles, Southern New Hampshire University, 15/09/2024 - 14/09/2025
  • Tracking students’ competency development in Higher Education degree programs, Education Futures, University of South Australia, 01/09/2024 - 31/08/2025
  • Natural Language Processing of Student Reflections Proof of Concept: Using AI to detect elements of Metacognition, Department of Education, South Australia, 01/05/2024 - 31/10/2024
  • Harnessing the Power of AI in Education, Balancing Data Use, Interventions, and Privacy, Human Systems INC, 15/11/2023 - 16/03/2027

Courses I teach

  • EDUC 5239 Online Learning Communities: Formal and Informal (2025)
  • EDUC 5239 Online Learning Communities: Formal and Informal (2024)
  • INFS 5100 Predictive Analytics (2024)

Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
2026 Co-Supervisor The Impact of Generative Artificial Intelligence AI (GenAI) on Students’ Cognitive engagement in Higher Education Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Xi Wang
2026 Co-Supervisor Exploring the Characteristics of Students' Collaborative Engagement Through Different AI Literacy profiles Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Dan Yang
2023 Co-Supervisor AI-powered ePortfolios in English as a Foreign Language Education Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Nguyen Nhu Anh Le
2023 Co-Supervisor 111126 - Developing learner profile of university students: Assessing and monitoring the development of critical skills and competencies during their tertiary learning Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Vimukthini Jayalath
2023 Co-Supervisor Understanding team dynamics and emotional resilience in complex problem solving Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Ms Megan Taylor

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