e-Learning Ecologies MOOC’s Updates
Adaptive Learning - An effective differentiated learning concept
Background Information on Adaptive Learning:
Adaptive Learning first came into the educational scene in the 1950s by a behaviorist, B.F. Skinner. He constructed a mechanism using a teaching machine that primarily focused on a new concept of effective teaching rather than memorizing the information time and again. The concept of Adaptive Learning in the early days goes in this manner with the teaching machine worked on the basis of allowing the student to practice new concepts and answering questions.
This machine’s protocol contained the following:
- The students answered the questions given to them as an assessment.
- If the student has answered the question correctly, the machine provides positive feedback.
- If the answer was wrong, although the student need not worry, as smaller steps with a series of hints were given so that the student can move towards the right answer (Adaptive Learning: Definition, History & Methodology, 2015).
What is Adaptive Learning?
As per a tweaked version of Daria Bastanzhyieva’s Business Dictionary definition, adaptive learning is “a type of learning that concentrates on analyzing the previous successes and outcomes of the training and uses these results as a basis for improving training strategies to ensure future successes” (Bastanzhyieva. D, 2017).
There are many online platforms that embed adaptive learning in their tools such as Google Classroom, Moodle, and Edmodo. There are other tools that bring adaptive learning to the classroom such as Socrative, Elevate, Matific, Quizalize, and Typeform.
As an example to demonstrate the adaptive learning, there is a tool called, LearnDash.
Adaptive learning with LearnDash enables course administrators to design courses in a non-linear manner and there are a variety of child courses each with a unique course level and the student will then be assigned a child course based on their performance in the quiz/quizzes of that parent course.
Adaptive Learning with LearnDash: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4bS-crxOLU
Implementation of Adaptive Learning:
Example 1:
Since August 2016, Adaptive Learning was implemented in the Singapore Management University (SMU) and about 500 students taking different courses in subject areas such as Economics, Strategy, Finance, and Organizational Behavior and Human Resources (OBHR) have been supported in their learning with adaptive courseware offered by educational publishers.
Singapore Management University (SMU) conducted an administered survey in collaboration with the faculty members and Centre for Teaching Excellence (CTE) using Qualtrics to collect feedback from students, measuring students’ perceptions of their experiences with the use of such adaptive digital tools.
Some students reported that clearer instructions could be given to facilitate their navigation of the educational publishers’ platform and suggested having more questions of higher difficulty levels (beyond comprehension and recall) included as part of the online quizzes. They also shared technical issues such as taking a long time to load the e-textbooks, and the incompatibility of the e-textbooks on a certain mobile operating system was also shared by students. However, the analyses of the findings were generally positive (Adaptive Learning Textbooks | Centre for Teaching Excellence, 2020).
Figure 1: Survey results of Singapore Management University's students taking different courses using Adaptive Learning
Image Credit: https://cte.smu.edu.sg/resources/adaptive-learning
Example 2:
Arizona State University (ASU), developed the world’s first adaptive-learning biology degree, adjusting to its students’ needs in real-time.
ASU’s four-year degree in Biological Sciences was built in a new adaptive-learning platform called BioSpine. The technology was a co-creation of ASU and a Scottish company, CogBooks.
ASU’s degree program is using the BioSpine adaptive-learning courseware instead of textbooks and faculty member’s linked learning activities to the platform, which will allow the students to progress through more challenging coursework when they are ready, or step back to obtain support in relearning material from a previous course or chapter, as a matter of personalized learning.
According to the ASU, it believes that a large lecture hall does not necessarily engage the students in science classrooms, nor is it effective in producing exceptional performance in exams. Hence, ASU has implemented the adaptive-learning approach and the results are the evidence to their successful implementation of such an approach (IBL News, 2019).
It has reached a goal of above 90% in three of its survey results and obtained a BIO 100 – Performance (C or better) after the implementation of Adaptive Learning Systems in the ASU’s degree program.
Figure 2: ASU transforms Undergraduate science education by developing the first adaptive learning degree
Image Credit: https://iblnews.org/asu-transforms-undergraduate-science-education-developing-the-first-adaptive-learning-degree/
Example 3:
Three Researchers from Georgia Gwinnett College, School of Science & Technology, Information Technology, conducted research on "Understanding Perceptions of Conceptual Information Technology Adaptive Learning" for the General Education - Computing Course. Students were required to complete an adaptive learning session for each major computing topic and at the end of the semester, a survey was conducted to 584 students and 25 instructors to understand the impact the adaptive learning system had on the course material, the students, and the instructors. Students were surveyed on their impressions of how the adaptive learning systems helped them learn, and their feedback on the various tools provided by the system. Instructors were asked to compare the adaptive learning tool to the traditional e-book previously used in the course. It was found that both students and instructors viewed adaptive learning as a beneficial addition to this computing course for the ability to focus on topics that students do not understand and for the tools it provides to motivate and engage the students (Kakish, K., Robertson, C. and Jonassen, L., 2020).
Figure 3: Effectiveness of Adaptive Learning Tools - Students' Perception
Figure 4: Overall Comparison of Adaptive Learning and E-Book - Instructors' Perception
Image Credit: https://easychair.org/publications/preprint_open/n7ZD
Conclusion:
According to the examples and the research survey results, we concur that the Adaptive Learning or Teaching has proven to be an effective approach for instructors to quickly view assignment the results and to personalize their teaching approach and assessments accordingly. It will save enormous time for the instructors and their students from wasting time in teaching the course materials that the students already understand. It also allows them adequate time to drill down into the course materials that are challenging to the students on the basis of customization.
In terms of the student perspective, adaptive learning provides an engaging interface for learning complex concepts. The system allows for self-reflection by quizzing students until they have mastered the topic. With multiple tools in place, it augments their learning experience as well and adaptive learning proves to be an effective tool for the students in their learning journey (Kakish, K., Robertson, C. and Jonassen, L., 2020).
References:
Adaptive Learning: Definition, History & Methodology. (2015). Available at: <https://study.com/academy/lesson/adaptive-learning-definition-history-methodology.html> [Accessed 26 May 2020].
BusinessDictionary.com. 2020. What Is Adaptive Learning? Definition and Meaning. [Online] Available at: <http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/adaptive-learning.html> [Accessed 26 May 2020].
Daria.B. 2020. Adaptive Learning: What Is It And How To Make It Work? [Online] Available at: <https://raccoongang.com/blog/adaptive-learning-what-it-and-how-make-it-work/> [Accessed 26 May 2020].
WordPress.org. 2020. Adaptive Learning with Learndash. [Online] Available at: <https://wordpress.org/plugins/adaptive-learning-with-learndash/> [Accessed 26 May 2020].
Cte.smu.edu.sg. 2020. Adaptive Learning Textbooks | Centre For Teaching Excellence. [Online] Available at: <https://cte.smu.edu.sg/resources/adaptive-learning> [Accessed 26 May 2020].
Iblnews.org. 2020. Arizona State University Develops the First Adaptive-Learning Degree in Science | IBL News. [Online] Available at: <https://iblnews.org/asu-transforms-undergraduate-science-education-developing-the-first-adaptive-learning-degree/> [Accessed 26 May 2020].
Kakish, K., Robertson, C., and Jonassen, L., 2020. Understanding Perceptions of Conceptual Information Technology Adaptive Learning. [Online] Easychair.org. Available at: <https://easychair.org/publications/preprint/n7ZD> [Accessed 26 May 2020].
Undoubtedly, you have a “feel” for what Differentiated and Personalized Learning are, as these are concepts that have been around for decades. Relatively speaking, there is now a “new kid on the block”! When looking at 2018 educational technology trend predictions, Adaptive Learning is appearing on most lists. So what are the differences between Adaptive Learning, Personalized Learning and Differentiated Learning?
Differentiated Learning (DL)
Academic goals of all students are the same
Teacher fits approaches and resources to individuals needs, based on what has worked historically, with similar students.
Responds to various learning styles
Different pathways to learning outcomes are provided
Appropriate levels of challenge are provided to all students
DL technology can determine a unique pathway that navigates the student, however it does not necessarily adapt the path, as the learner moves forward.
Personalized Learning (PL)
Student’s interests guide the learning
Pace is set such that it is unique to the learner
Academic goals for each student may vary throughout the learning environment
Relies on students taking ownership of their own learning
Teacher adopt the role of Guide-on-the-Side
PL technology will maintain a personal profile for each learner, which facilitates a personalized experience, every step of the way. The program acts as the instructor and tutor. Learning progresses typically in a linear manner.
Adaptive Learning (AL)
Similar to how Facebook uses analytics to fill our Newsfeeds with cat videos over dog videos, AL responds to the student’s strengths, weaknesses and learning goals, also using analytics.
Student interests and results drive the analytics, in real-time
AL technology tailors the pathway to the learners’ objective, such that they spend the most effective and efficient amount of time to demonstrate proficiency
AL technology takes prior learning into account, differentiates the pace for individuals, and accommodates different curriculum sequences. Learning is not necessarily completed in a linear manner.
AL technology provides instruction and tutoring support, and interacts with the student throughout the learning process. As students respond with errors, the programs can alter the teaching strategy, in real-time. This, in turn, perpetually keeps learners within their Zones of Proximal Development.
AL technology can incorporate pre-made resources, user made resources, and all of the affordances that digital learning can provide (gamification, badges, AR, etc.)
Future Prospects for AL
Analysts have labelled AL as “The Next Big Thing” and “The Billion Dollar Bet”, as universities are one-by-one adopting AL learning management systems for certain programs and courses. AL companies, such as Realizeit, are gaining traction, as student satisfaction and success rates gain percentage points. Emerging markets in K – 12 are also becoming ubiquitous, as demonstrated with McGraw Hill’s ALEKS, mathematics-based platform.
As artificial intelligence technology improves, presumably Adaptive Learning will, as well. Further, it will behoove educators and learning changemakers to acknowledge that in this world of Personalized Learning, that not all learners will thrive in this entirely digital platform. Regardless of one’s platform preference, however, Adaptive “Learningfeeds” may be alongside one’s Newsfeed, sooner rather than later!
Resources:
What is adaptive learning?
The Difference between Personalized Learning and Adaptive Learning and Differentiated Instruction
The Knowledge Blog: Personalized vs Adaptive Learning
Personalized vs. differentiated vs. individualized learning
Prediction Sources:
Educause Review: An Adaptive Learning Partnership
10 Amazing E-learning Trends in 2018 You Don’t Want to Miss Out On
EdTech trends 2018: AR, VR and adaptive learning to influence education sector
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