BiLSTM-Based Deep Learning Model for Early Prediction of Student Academic Failure Risk in Digital and Distance Education

Liza Yuliana (1) , Liesma M. Siregar (2)
(1) Digital Business, Universitas Nahdlatul Ulama Sumatera Barat, Padang, Indonesia, Indonesia,
(2) Digital Business Study Program, Universitas Nahdlatul Ulama Sumatera Barat, Padang, Indonesia, Indonesia

Abstract

Digital and distance learning platforms generate abundant interaction log data from students. However, leveraging temporal log data for early prediction of academic failure risks remains challenging due to time sensitivity and sequence data processing in remote learning contexts. This study aims to develop a Deep Learning model based on Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory (BiLSTM) to predict student academic performance and failure risks based on weekly interaction patterns within a Learning Management System (LMS). A dataset comprising interaction logs from 1,250 distance education students over one semester was analyzed by extracting features such as material access frequency, forum participation, and assignment submission timing. Experimental results demonstrate that the BiLSTM model achieves an accuracy of 91.4%, Precision of 89.2%, and Recall of 92.6% as early as Week 6 of the course. This early prediction allows educators to implement timely pedagogical interventions to reduce dropout rates in digital and distance learning environments.

Full text article

Generated from XML file

References

Akello, E. F., Ijiga, O. M., & Idoko, I. P. (2026). Sequence-Aware Learning Analytics for Early Identification of At-Risk Academic Trajectories in Higher Education Using Transformer Models. International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology, 818. https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/26jan563

Al-Zyoud, N., Al-Hendawi, M., & Alodat, A. (2025). Stakeholder Perspectives on Challenges and Improvements in Student Classification and Progress Monitoring in Qatari Schools: A Qualitative Study. Sustainability, 17(22), 10042. https://doi.org/10.3390/su172210042

Asdaq, S. M. B., Alhowail, A. H., Rabbani, S. I., Nayeem, N., Asdaq, S. M. E., & Nausheen, F. (2025). Learning Disabilities in the 21st Century: Integrating Neuroscience, Education, and Technology for Better Outcomes. SAGE Open, 15(3), 21582440251365483. https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440251365483

Balaskas, S., Yfantidou, I., Nikolopoulos, T., & Komis, K. (2025). The Psychology of EdTech Nudging: Persuasion, Cognitive Load, and Intrinsic Motivation. European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education, 15(9), 179. https://doi.org/10.3390/ejihpe15090179

Bollampally, A., Kavitha, J., Sumanya, P., Rajesh, D., Jaffar, A. Y., Eid, W. N., Albarakati, H. M., Aldosari, F. M., & Alharbi, A. A. (2024). Optimizing Edge Computing for Activity Recognition: A Bidirectional LSTM Approach on the PAMAP2 Dataset. Engineering, Technology & Applied Science Research, 14(6), 18086–18093. https://doi.org/10.48084/etasr.8861

Chen, F., & Cui, Y. (2020). Utilizing Student Time Series Behaviour in Learning Management Systems for Early Prediction of Course Performance. Journal of Learning Analytics, 7(2), 1–17. https://doi.org/10.18608/jla.2020.72.1

Chen, J., & Lin, J. (2020). The Application of Bi-LSTM in Computerized Adaptive Test Research. 2020 International Conference on Big Data and Social Sciences (ICBDSS), 33–36. https://doi.org/10.1109/ICBDSS51270.2020.00015

Dritsas, E., & Trigka, M. (2025). Methodological and Technological Advancements in E-Learning. Information, 16(1), 56. https://doi.org/10.3390/info16010056

Feng, F. (2025). Deep learning-based model for analyzing student engagement in activities. Scientific Reports, 16(1), 2552. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-32521-w

Fitas, R. (2025). Inclusive education with AI: Supporting special needs and tackling language barriers. AI and Ethics, 5(6), 5729–5757. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43681-025-00824-3

Hamdane, K., Mhouti, A. E., & Massar, M. (2025). Addressing Dropout through Personalization: A Graph Neural Network Approach to Modelling Learner Interactions. Global Journal of Engineering and Technology Advances, 25(1), 001–012. https://doi.org/10.30574/gjeta.2025.25.1.0291

Hendrawan, S. A. (2025). Analysis of the Digital System-Based Academic Factors and the Risk of Student Dropout Using Chi-Square Test for Data Driven-Interventions. Edu Cendikia: Jurnal Ilmiah Kependidikan, 5(02), 602–616. https://doi.org/10.47709/educendikia.v5i02.6736

Hu, C., Li, F., Wang, S., Gao, Z., Pan, S., & Qing, M. (2025). The role of artificial intelligence in enhancing personalized learning pathways and clinical training in dental education. Cogent Education, 12(1), 2490425. https://doi.org/10.1080/2331186X.2025.2490425

Junejo, N. U. R., Nawaz, M. W., Huang, Q., Dong, X., Wang, C., & Zheng, G. (2024). Accurate Multi-Category Student Performance Forecasting at Early Stages of Online Education Using Neural Networks (Version 1). arXiv. https://doi.org/10.48550/ARXIV.2412.05938

Karapiperis, D., Tzafilkou, K., Tsoni, R., Feretzakis, G., & Verykios, V. S. (2023). A Probabilistic Approach to Modeling Students’ Interactions in a Learning Management System for Facilitating Distance Learning. Information, 14(8), 440. https://doi.org/10.3390/info14080440

Katalinic, A., Slavuj, V., & Jaksic, D. (2026). Artificial Intelligence in Online Education: A Systematic Review of Its Impact on Learner Engagement and Satisfaction. Education Sciences, 16(3), 389. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci16030389

Koesmanto, E. A., Staniswinata, S., & Manuaba, I. B. K. (2025). A User-Centered Learning Analytics Dashboard with Proactive Notifications to Empower Online Teachers. 2025 International Conference on Smart-Green Technology in Electrical and Information Systems (ICSGTEIS), 423–428. https://doi.org/10.1109/ICSGTEIS68532.2025.11284387

Lasri, I., Riadsolh, A., & ElBelkacemi, M. (2023). Self-Attention-Based Bi-LSTM Model for Sentiment Analysis on Tweets about Distance Learning in Higher Education. International Journal of Emerging Technologies in Learning (iJET), 18(12), 119–141. https://doi.org/10.3991/ijet.v18i12.38071

Mihoubi, M., Zerkouk, M., & Chikhaoui, B. (2025). Beyond classical and contemporary models: A transformative AI framework for student dropout prediction in distance learning using RAG, Prompt engineering, and Cross-modal fusion (Version 2). arXiv. https://doi.org/10.48550/ARXIV.2507.05285

Misiejuk, K., López-Pernas, S., Kaliisa, R., & Saqr, M. (2026). Cognitive offloading in student–AI collaboration: A longitudinal analysis of prompting strategies. Computers in Human Behavior Reports, 22, 101130. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chbr.2026.101130

Mo, Y., Zhang, J., & Mou, Y. (2026). Big Data Research on Personalized Learning in Computer Education: A Thematic Evolution Analysis. Computer Applications in Engineering Education, 34(2), e70159. https://doi.org/10.1002/cae.70159

Nain, N., Tanwar, S., & Singh, P. (2025). A Data Analytics-Based System for Proactive Student Performance Monitoring and Personalized Learning Interventions. Computer Science and Mathematics. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202510.1809.v1

Naripeddy, S. C. B., & Thotakura, V. R. (2025). Optimizing Predictive Accuracy: A Comparative Study of Modern Machine Learning Algorithms in Real-World Datasets. Journal of Artificial Intelligence General Science (JAIGS) ISSN:3006-4023, 8(02), 111–125. https://doi.org/10.60087/jaigs.v8i02.393

Neththikumara, S., & Maduranga, M. W. P. (2025). Recent Results of Machine Learning in Predicting Student Performance: A Systematic Literature Review. 2025 IEEE Digital Education and MOOCS Conference (DEMOcon), 1–5. https://doi.org/10.1109/DEMOcon65705.2025.11282820

NPLC «Karaganda Buketov University», Muratkhan, R., Kazimova, D., NPLC «Karaganda Buketov University», Zhumagulova, S., NPLC «Karaganda Buketov University», Kopyltsov, A., Saint Petersburg State University of Aerospace Instrumentation, Tursyngaliyeva, G., & NPLC «Karaganda Buketov University». (2025). Data Analysis and Prediction of Students’ Academic Performance Using Machine Learning and Deep Learning Methods. TRUDY UNIVERSITETA, 3(100), 488–494. https://doi.org/10.52209/1609-1825_2025_3_488

Omarbekova, A., Ramazan, A., Oralbekova, Z., Lamasheva, Z., Bekmanova, G., Nazyrova, A., & Abuov, A. (2026). A temporal attention-based hybrid deep learning model for student performance and academic risk prediction. Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence, 9, 1811886. https://doi.org/10.3389/frai.2026.1811886

Pineda-Briseño, A., Hernández-Compean, M. G., Flores-Becerra, G. A., Hernández-Quezada, M. D. J., & De Los Santos-Alonso, M. M. (2026). A Scalable Data Pipeline for Early Detection and Decision Support in Higher Education: YuumCare. Data, 11(5), 112. https://doi.org/10.3390/data11050112

Priya Swaminarayan. (2025). Intelligent Early Warning System for Student Dropout Detection Using Deep Learning. https://doi.org/10.5281/ZENODO.17303724

Saha, S., & Melnik, R. (2025). Integrating Emotion-Specific Factors into the Dynamics of Biosocial and Ecological Systems: Mathematical Modeling Approaches Accounting for Psychological Effects. Mathematical and Computational Applications, 30(6), 136. https://doi.org/10.3390/mca30060136

Saluja, A., Bindu, Baig, N., Grover, A., & Adlakha, R. (2025). Leveraging Digital Learning Environments and Predictive Analytics to Develop Adaptive Early Warning Systems for At-Risk Students in Higher Education: In Minakshi, T. Kumar, M. Bhatia, B. Wadhwa, & R. Jain (Eds.), Enhancing Operational Efficiency and Predictive Maintenance Through Digital Innovation (pp. 221–242). IGI Global Scientific Publishing. https://doi.org/10.4018/979-8-3373-2474-6.ch011

Sandiwarno, S., Sensuse, D. I., Santoso, H. B., Hidayat, D. S., Nyamawe, A. S., & Yousif, A. (2025). E-SATNet: Evaluating Student Satisfaction with Lecturer Responses in Asynchronous Online Discussions Using Sentiment and Semantic Similarity Analysis. Big Data and Cognitive Computing, 9(9), 228. https://doi.org/10.3390/bdcc9090228

Sun, D. (2022). LMS Log Data Presenting Interaction Traces. In D. Sun & G. Cheng, Learner Interactions in Massive Private Online Courses (1st ed., pp. 24–30). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/b23163-4

Suresh, A., Kaplan, E. H., Pinker, E. J., & Gruen, J. R. (2025). Optimal evaluation policies to identify students with reading disabilities. Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, 98, 102116. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seps.2024.102116

Termedi, M. I., Ma’rof, A. M., Ab. Jalil, H. B., & Ishak, I. (2023). A Thematic Review on Predicting Student Performance Using Data Mining. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 13(11), Pages 1814-1831. https://doi.org/10.6007/IJARBSS/v13-i11/19563

Val, S., & Quintas, A. (2025). Key performance indicators for optimizing academic performance and course design in online educational platforms. Cogent Education, 12(1), 2529420. https://doi.org/10.1080/2331186X.2025.2529420

Wang, P., Ganushchak, L., Welie, C., & Van Steensel, R. (2026). Emotions Are Not Random: Machine Learning Reveals Predictable Patterns in a 21-Day Second Language Learning Trajectory. Educational Psychology Review, 38(1), 49. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10648-026-10141-8

Winsli G. Felix, J., E. Supan, F., & Makhammatkosimovna Kuchkarova, F. (2025). A Comprehensive Framework for Predicting Student Performance Using Machine Learning in Online Education. Qubahan Techno Journal, 4(1), 16–22. https://doi.org/10.48161/qtj.v4n1a44

Xu, N., Wu, F., Liu, Z., & Zhan, Y. (2025). Evaluating the academic outcome of AI-powered joint support for at-risk students. Computers and Education: Artificial Intelligence, 9, 100517. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.caeai.2025.100517

Zhang, F., Subagia, I. W., Artini, L. P., & Wahyuni, D. S. (2025). Optimizing blended learning through AI-powered analytics in digital education platforms: An empirical framework. Future Technology, 4(4), 173–184. https://doi.org/10.55670/fpll.futech.4.4.15

Zhang, X., & Shi, W. (2025). An AI-driven framework integrating predictive modeling and intervention strategies to enhance psychological health education among college students. Discover Applied Sciences, 7(10), 1095. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42452-025-07674-y

Authors

Liza Yuliana
Lizha.1990@gmail.com (Primary Contact)
Liesma M. Siregar

Article Details