A Tiered Framework for Educational Event Data Documentation: Synthesizing Principles and Addressing Gaps

Digital learning platforms generate millions of fine-grained behavioral events, yet inadequate documentation restricts equitable research use. We systematically reviewed five documentation traditions (survey/DDI, FAIR, AI transparency, learning-analytics standards, psychometrics) and identified gaps unique to educational event data: temporal complexity, nested structures, platform business logic, scale/granularity, and access heterogeneity. Synthesizing cross-cutting strengths, we propose five principles—Transparency, Accessibility, Usability, Responsibility, Maintainability—operationalized in a 16-item 3-tiered framework designed to enable platforms to self-assess and improve incrementally. Empirical validation through platform piloting and researcher feedback represents essential next steps.