Training Industry Magazine - May/June 2019 - 57

WHAT'S NEXT IN TECH
STELLA LEE, PH.D.

CREATE EFFECTIVE
ADAPTIVE LEARNING
FOR YOUR LEARNERS
Personalization and adaptive delivery
has consistently been mentioned as
one of the top emerging trends in
e-learning. Adaptive learning comes
in many varieties, from simple preassessment to artificial intelligence
(AI) algorithms that dynamically
adjust content, activities or learning
sequences. These systems make use
of learner profiles and feedback,
instructor interventions, assessment
results, learning management systems
(LMS) and related platform data, and
deep learning algorithms to provide a
personalized learning experience.
With thoughtful instructional design,
adaptive learning can be especially
useful when there is a large cohort
or when learners are interacting with
online material on their own. It provides
tailored learner support and delivers
content at the appropriate level and
sequence. However, many challenges
exist in creating effective adaptive
learning. Below are some areas to inform
your design process:
1. USE ACTIONABLE DATA
Adaptive learning will improve as
more data are collected, but only if
the data provides insights learners
and course designers can act on. For
example, in adaptive learning design,
it is not entirely meaningful to collect
data on how frequently a learner
logs into an LMS. On the other hand,
formative assessment data (e.g. quick
checks for understanding or a feedback
mechanism where learners can enter
comments) could be useful when
assessments provide results that course
designers use to adjust the content
sequence, or for learners to be able to
seek further clarifications.

2. KNOW WHAT TO ADAPT
Adaption could be many things. You
can adapt learning at a macro level for
a curriculum - provide pre-test to assess
learners' knowledge, allow learners to
skip certain learning modules, or ask
people for their learning preferences. At
a micro level, learning materials can be
adapted based on what learners have
done and clicked on, where they want
to go, and how to re-sequence content
based on the interaction. Adaptive
assessments can be applied to adjust
the level of difficulty for each question,
as well as regulate the frequency of the
tests. Know what you need to adapt for
your learners and select the appropriate
type of technique accordingly.
3. APPLY SOUND PRINCIPLES
For adaptive learning to work well, it is
pertinent to apply sound pedagogical
principles. Adaptive learning has less
to do with the technology and more to
do with how the learning design meets
objectives and competencies. Learning
theories such as spaced repetition could
be integrated into the adaptive algorithm
to spread out learning across multiple
sessions and remind learners what
they have forgotten. Spaced repetition
theory incorporates increasing intervals
of time between reviews of previously
learned material that leads to greater
retention of knowledge. The intervals
could be adjusted based on each
learner's performance, test scores and
other attributes. Instructional designers
who work on adaptive learning systems
must have a deep understanding of
pedagogical principles in relation to the
target learners: how these principles are
applied, how the learners interact with
the systems, and to what extent does the

adaptive design reflect the underlying
assumptions of the learners.
4. PUT LEARNERS IN CONTROL
The promise of adaptive learning is to
create a learner-centered experience
that is sensitive to your individual needs,
as well as context. Learners should be
in control of their learning journey and
the adaptive systems need to benefit
their learning process, support them
in becoming self-directed learners and
contribute to their overall learning
experience. Learners need to have the
ability to choose, provide feedback, adjust
and be informed about how decisions are
made based on assumptions about them.
In other words, adaptive systems must be
transparent in how and what they adapt.
It is difficult to make informed decisions
and correct the paths we are on in we
don't know how our systems function.

ADAPTIVE SYSTEMS
MUST BE TRANSPARENT
IN HOW AND WHAT
THEY ADAPT.
Adaptive learning can be an effective
way to bring individualized learning to
large cohorts or to engage learners in a
self-paced online learning environment.
At the same time, we need to be mindful
of how this technique is best utilized to
cater to the diverse learning needs.
Dr. Stella Lee has over 20 years of experience
in
consulting,
planning,
designing,
implementing, and measuring learning
initiatives. Today, her focus is on large-scale
learning projects including LMS evaluation
and implementation, learning analytics,
and artificial intelligent applications in
learning. Email Stella.

T RAIN IN G I N DU STR Y M AGAZ INE - UNDERSTANDING YOUR LEARNERS 20 1 9 I WWW. T RAI NINGINDU S T RY . C OM/ MAGAZ I NE

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Training Industry Magazine - May/June 2019

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