Adaptive learning: training tailored to you
Adaptive learning is the subtle art of building tailored courseware that fits every learner’s needs. While it is fundamental to have a reliable infrastructure behind a digital training process, it is indeed most important how content is used to create effective lessons. In this article we will talk about this method and why it is something you cannot do without.
WHAT ADAPTIVE LEARNING IS
According to the definition of adaptive learning, it is “an educational method which uses computer algorithms to orchestrate the interaction with the learner and deliver customized resources and learning activities to address the unique needs of each learner”. It does not imply the creation of different lessons for everyone, but a training path with many possible options related to the results of specific assessments. The structure is based on small free-standing learning units that can be “switched” on and off according to the student’s needs, basing on predefined computer algorithm that may also include AI.
ADAPTABILITY FROM A LEARNER’S PERSPECTIVE
What does it mean for students? When the user answers to well-planned questions, the system is able to automatically select the best path, making him see only useful content. This has two main benefits for students. First of all, it avoids the learner to feel like he’s wasting time studying things he already knows. On the other side, it allows to really take the most of training time, since it can all be used to focus on unknown information.
TRAINER’S POINT OF VIEW
For a trainer who is in charge of many students, each one with its own characteristics and learning needs, courseware’s adaptability guarantees that everybody will have a tailored training path to reach all the preset goals. This is in fact the aim of digital learning: allowing everyone to acquire knowledge at its own pace, keeping the satisfaction level high while ensuring effectiveness.
COMPLIANCE: ALL ABOUT MOTIVATION
Everyone who has ever experienced distance training, either as a student or as a trainer, knows that the main obstacle that must be overcome is the lack of motivation. Feeling frustrated is very easy if the content is perceived as too easy or too hard, which is quite common when traditional methods are used. Having to build a lesson for a large number of students, trainers tend in fact to rely on compromise solutions that aim to be good enough for everyone. When talking about distance training, though, ensuring compliance with the designed learning path is fundamental. Since motivation is the first and strongest engagement driver, acting directly to motivate students is proven to boost the overall effectiveness of training.
We said that the base of adaptive learning is a modular structure: this is an educational strategy called microlearning. Which are the most important characteristics for these learning objects? Find out all about SCORM in our next article!
REFERENCES
Wikipedia, Adaptive learning