In the context of educational analytics, what can heat maps help identify?

Heat maps are powerful visualization tools used in educational analytics to help identify performance gaps among student groups. They display data in a visually appealing manner by using colors to represent different levels of performance or metrics, making it easier to identify trends and patterns.

In the context of performance analysis, heat maps can highlight areas where certain groups of students may be struggling in comparison to their peers. For example, if a heat map represents exam scores across different demographics or subject areas, areas that show lower performance will be indicated by a cooler color (like blue), while higher performance is represented by warmer colors (like red or yellow). This immediate visual impact allows educators to quickly spot where interventions may be needed to support underperforming groups, facilitating targeted strategies for improvement.

While the other options listed, such as student attendance patterns, budget allocations, and course enrollment statistics, are important metrics in educational settings, they do not leverage the specific advantages of heat maps in identifying performance gaps as effectively as the choice related to academic performance.