Adaptive learning is a computer-based, online educational system that customises the presentation of study material in response to a learner’s performance. This is the take-off point for a much-needed revolution in the realm of education, wherein classroom teaching will cater to the diverse needs of students in the same class, at the same time.
Adaptive learning, as a process, has been around since the late 1950s. However, due to the unavailability of apt technology, it couldn’t get further than the structural blocks of recognising only two levels of intelligences to cater to, the smart and the struggling — not adapting to the truly unique needs of everyone in between. Difficulty in record-keeping as well as the knowledge transfer from teacher to teacher from Class 1 to 12 kept the practice from catching on. The advent of machines solved the problem to an extent by making record-keeping easy. However, it still didn’t help with the real-time processing of data to provide immediate answers and results.
Adaptive learning has now come into its being and is reaching its true potential. Modern adaptive learning methods mainly use interactive teaching devices to gauge the unique learning needs of each student, as indicated by their responses to questions, tasks and experiences. An individualised learning path is then provided to every student.
If a student answers a question wrong, instead of being asked to solve it again, the teacher can provide extra coaching to reinforce the specific concept so that she or he can catch up with the rest of the class. This removes the need for rote learning or mere memorisation. The system intuitively learns about a student as more data is put in and recommends in real time the best activity to be tried next. It draws on a student’s own history, compares it to what other students do, and creates a better learning experience for the future.
The major features of this learning system are:
Teachers create a unique learning path for each student through the study material.
Teachers offer support to students when and where they need it, with reinforcement of the concepts taught.
Students can practice particular concepts they are having trouble with till they master them.
Advanced learners can stay engaged through study materials of a higher standard than the rest of the class.
Adaptive learning with its individualised instruction and special focus on personalised learning can be a tough task for any one teacher, especially if the classroom is a big one. The extra preparation needed may deter teachers from embracing this new paradigm shift in their classroom. However, data-driven adaptive learning technology is making this much easier and the pros overtake the cons by a mile. Here are some examples:
Diminishes learning gaps: There are significant learning gaps between ‘smart’ students and ‘backbenchers’ and this is a universal phenomenon. Adaptive learning, if used effectively, can bridge this gap in one academic year. Teachers stay with the difficult topic and spend more time with students, ironing out the problem areas, while moving at a normal pace when covering areas in which the students excel. This brings everyone to their highest personal level of achievement.
More confident students: Individualised instruction can help students gain self-confidence and become self-assured learners, because lessons are now
tailored to their specific abilities. This new confidence will then help them progress even more quickly.
Greater student-teacher engagement: Teachers will now have more opportunities to interact with students on a one-on-one basis when using individualised instruction in their classrooms. Adaptive learning will present more opportunities for teachers to talk with students, assess where they are academically, and how their individual learning paths can be further tailored for better results.
Self-paced learning: Students in the same classroom will be able to learn at different paces at the same time. This is a great opportunity for gifted students to move ahead of the class, while students who are having problems in a particular area can take the time they need to review and master the concept.
Adaptive learning has been in use in various fields outside of education. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) uses it for simulations, and various branches of the military use it to train for asymmetric warfare. Adaptive learning is extensively used in social media on platforms like Amazon and Netflix. When a customer first signs up, they are shown generic group of products’ recommendations. Then, based on the response and purchase history, the system will start making unique, customised suggestions.
(The author is CEO & co-founder, Next Education India, Hyderabad)