Table 6 Description of Research Themes

Learners behavior and performance

Studies that investigated the learner’s attitude, satisfaction, strategies, behavior, big data frameworks, adaptive learning, teaching and learning analytics.

(Cantabella, Martínez-España, Ayuso, Yáñez, & Muñoz, 2019; Chaurasia & Frieda Rosin, 2017; Chaurasia, Kodwani, Lachhwani, & Ketkar, 2018; Coccoli, Maresca, & Stanganelli, 2017; Dessì, Fenu, Marras, & Reforgiato Recupero, 2019; Dubey & Gunasekaran, 2015; Elia, Solazzo, Lorenzo, & Passiante, 2018; Hirashima, Supianto, & Hayashi, 2017; Lia & Zhaia, 2018; Liang, Yang, Wu, Li, & Zheng, 2016; Maldonado-Mahauad, Pérez-Sanagustín, Kizilcec, Morales, & Munoz-Gama, 2018; Muthukrishnan & Yasin, 2018; Nie et al., 2018; Oi et al., 2017; Roy & Singh, 2017; Sedkaoui & Khelfaoui, 2019; Shorfuzzaman et al., 2019; Su, Ding, Lue, Lai, & Su, 2017; Troisi, Grimaldi, Loia, & Maione, 2018; Veletsianos, Reich, & Pasquini, 2016; Yang & Du, 2016)

Modeling and educational Data Warehouse

Studies that introduced big data modeling and analyzed big data tools (Hadoop) with data warehouses. It explored the cloud environment and cluster analysis for accessibility and processing of educational data.

(Logica & Magdalena, 2015; Pardos, 2017; Petrova-Antonova, Georgieva, & Ilieva, 2017; Ramos, Machado, & Cordeiro, 2015; Santoso & Yulia, 2017; Wassan, 2015)

Improvement of the educational system

Studies that analyzed statistical tools, measurements, challenges, and ICT effectiveness. It emphasized on training and various implications. It introduced a ranking system and observes the usage of websites to improve the educational system.

(Gupta & Rani, 2018; Martínez-Abad, Gamazo, & Rodríguez-Conde, 2018; Ong, 2015; Ozgur, Kleckner, & Li, 2015; Qiu, Huang, & Patel, 2015; Selwyn, 2014; Sooriamurthi, 2018; Sorensen, 2018; Zhang, 2015)

Integration of big data into the curriculum

Studies that introduce big data topics into different courses and highlighted its implications for education.

(Buffum et al., 2014; Dinter, Jaekel, Kollwitz, & Wache, 2017; Nelson & Pouchard, 2017; Sledgianowski, Gomaa, & Tan, 2017)