Due to rapid advancements in our ability to collect, process, and analyze massive amounts of data, it is now possible for educational institutions to gain new insights into how people learn (Kumar, 2013). E-learning has become an important part of education, and this form of learning is especially suited to the use of big data and data analysis, leading to improved outcomes, so it is deserving of special emphasis. As we consider the enormous potential of big data in e-learning, we must also recognize many emerging issues in order to implement data analytics responsibly. This article serves two functions. First, it provides an introduction to the special issue on big data and data analytics. Second, it describes a framework for identifying and analyzing the major issues surrounding the thoughtful and purposeful implementation of big data in education, and specifically in e-learning.