Adaptive learning is an educational method which uses computers as interactive teaching devices, and to orchestrate the allocation of human and mediated resources according to the unique needs of each learner.

• Computers adapt the presentation of educational material according to student's learning needs, as indicated by their responses to questions, tasks and experiences.
• The technology encompasses aspects derived from various fields of study including computer science, education, psychology, and brain science.

Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adaptive_learning

But what does that really mean?

Reference: https://youtu.be/zHdUXFiqJjg

“True adaptivity” is data-driven, takes into account things like psychometrics, data models, algorithms, and really takes all of that information for each student and continues to adapt, in real-time, and change and improve over time for each student. It take into account all of the data, from all of the students on the system, and is really able to improve the learning experience for everybody based on that.”

Reference: Knewton https://www.knewton.com/

(Knewton is a technology company based in NYC. The Knewton Adaptive Learning Platform customizes the delivery of educational content to meet the unique needs of each student. Knewton analyzes learning materials based on thousands of data points—concepts, structure, difficulty level, media format—and uses sophisticated algorithms to piece together the perfect bundle of content for each student, every day.)

“When we don’t listen to data, we’re not listening to students.” Jennifer Engle, senior program officer at Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Reference: https://youtu.be/00pM28oaq5k

Reference: http://postsecondary.gatesfoundation.org/areas-of-focus/incentives/data-information/data-to-enable-student-choices/

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is putting their money where their mouths are.

As of April 2014, the have slated $2.2M toward 17 grants for partnerships between postsecondary institutions and adaptive learning technology vendors to document and measure student learning outcomes.

In studies, they found:

1. Courses in which students’ dominant role when working online was solving problems or answering questions had more positive effects than those where the dominant online activity was listening or reading.
2. Course implementations using individualized pacing had more positive impacts than those with class-based or a mixed form of pacing.
3. Adaptive learning technologies demonstrated larger learning effects than nonadaptive ones.

Reference:

http://postsecondary.gatesfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/SRI_Lessons-from-5-Years-of-Funding-Digital-Courseware1.pdf

Instituting Adaptive Learning solutions in classrooms demands changes in both teacher and student practices

According to Mark Montero, a second-grade teacher at ERES Academy, “You have to let go of some of the micromanagement … You have to trust that each student is working hard, and working at their top level.”

McGraw-Hill is one company looking to invest heavily to help schools successfully implement adaptive learning. McGraw-Hill’s vast resources could help them navigate the complexities of the Adaptive Learning Ecosystem.

The good news is that the advancement of software and technology doesn’t seem to be jeopardizing jobs for teachers and administrators:

“It all boils down to good teachers, good students, good parents and good principals,” says Dr. Steven Ross, senior researcher and professor at the Center for Research and Reform in Education at Johns Hopkins. “Without that, some little software project isn’t going to make that much of a difference.”

Reference: https://www.edsurge.com/research/special-reports/adaptive-learning/

What could a development process look like?

• ADAPTIVE CONTENT: When a student gets something wrong, tools with adaptive content respond with feedback that’s based on that student's specific mistake. The tools provide materials to review the relevant skill. They also break down skills into smaller pieces for students without changing the overall sequence of skills.
• ADAPTIVE ASSESSMENT: The key to understanding adaptive assessment is to remember that these tools change the questions a student sees based on his or her response to the previous question. The difficulty of questions will increase as a student answers them accurately. If the student struggles, the questions will get easier.
• ADAPTIVE SEQUENCE: Tools with adaptive sequences have a lot going on behind the scenes. These tools are continuously collecting and analyzing student data to automatically change what a student sees next; from the order of skills a student works on, to the type of content a student receives.

Reference: https://www.edsurge.com/research/special-reports/adaptive-learning/definition

What does Adaptive Learning success look like?

Colorado Technical University began piloting courses with adaptive learning in the beginning of 2012:

• Pass rates went up to an average of 81% (a 27% increase)
• Course retention rate rose about 9%
• Final grade averages increased by 10%

Reference: Adaptive Learning Platforms: Creating a Path for Success (http://er.educause.edu/articles/2016/3/adaptive-learning-platforms-creating-a-path-for-success)

Other Success Stories:

Students make gains in math placement (84%), thanks to online adaptive learning (http://news.ucsc.edu/2016/12/adaptive-learning.html)

A student’s journey: ‘Self-regulation’ paved the way to success (http://www.hewlett.org/students-journey-self-regulation-paved-way-success/)

Jefferson Community & Technical College nursing program experiences a 10% grade increase after implementing Elsevier Adaptive Quizzing (https://evolve.elsevier.com/education/adaptive-learning/college-nursing-program-experiences-increase-after-implementing-elsevier-adaptive-quizzing/)

What are some tools to consider?

• Adobe Captivate: http://www.adobe.com/products/captivate.html
• Articulate Storyline: https://articulate.com/360/storyline
• Skilitics Interact: http://skilitics.com/interact/overview/
• CogBooks: https://www.cogbooks.com/
• DreamBox: http://www.dreambox.com/why-dreambox
• Knewton: https://www.knewton.com
• View 24 tools on EdSurge: https://www.edsurge.com/research/special-reports/adaptive-learning/software