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CreateSession

README.md

CreateSession Component

Component Type: Transform
Language: Python

Description

The CreateSession component processes a merged DataShop-format log file and generates session-level summaries by identifying interaction sessions and bundling related events based on timing and similarity.

What It Does

  • Accepts input from a Join component (merged Interactions + Exercises in DataShop format).
  • Splits activity into sessions using a 10-minute inactivity threshold.
  • Within each session, events are bundled into groups based on:
    • Same event type (e.g., same Step Name)
    • Same Exercise Type (e.g., PE vs slideshow)
    • Time proximity (within 60 seconds)

Input

File Type: Tab-delimited .txt file (DataShop format)
Expected Columns:

  • Anon Student Id
  • Time (timestamp)
  • Step Name
  • Action
  • Level (Book/module)
  • CF (Exercise Type)
  • CF (Short Name)

This file is typically the output of a Join operation.

Output

File: sessions_custom.txt
Format: Tab-delimited summary file

Column Description
session Session number for the student
Anon Student Id Unique student identifier
Level (Book) Book/module label
Event name Normalized name of event type
Event Description Description of the interaction
Start time Start timestamp of the event bundle
End time End timestamp of the event bundle
Action Time Duration of the event group (in seconds)
CF (Short Name) Exercise short name (content family)
Number of events Count of bundled events in this group

Session Logic

A new session starts when:

  • The gap between consecutive events > 10 minutes

A new event group starts within a session if:

  • Time gap from previous event > 60 seconds
  • Event type changes (different Step Name or Action)
  • Exercise Type switches (e.g., PE → slideshow)

Error Handling

  • Malformed or incomplete lines are skipped
  • Rows with missing timestamps are dropped
  • If no input is provided in test mode, the component will try:
    1. test/Import-1-x995490/output/joinedResult.txt
    2. test/data/joinedResult.txt
    3. joinedResult.txt in the working directory

Notes

  • Designed to work after merging Interactions and Exercises using the Join component.
  • Ideal for producing session-level features for educational log analysis.