<p>According to a recent report, the country has more than 1.5 million schools with over 260 million students enrolled and holds one of the topmost positions in the global education industry. Adding, the country is the largest market for e-learning after the US. There has also been an increasing awareness among parents and educators on the dynamic nature of workplace demands and the ineffectiveness of the ‘one-size-fits-all’ method of learning in facing those challenges. The personalisation of learning has, therefore, become the need of the hour and adaptive learning can bring personalised learning to all Indian students.</p>.<p>Adaptive learning is a computer-based educational system that provides learners with their personalised course based on their ability and performance. It requires gaining a thorough understanding of a child’s abilities and quantifying the knowledge level of a child on different topics accurately through assessments. Once the knowledge state and ability of the child is determined, the AI-based adaptive learning technology recommends to students the optimal learning path from its vast pool of resources. </p>.<p class="CrossHead"><strong>Low cost, universal access</strong></p>.<p>Lack of qualified teachers, an ideal student-teacher ratio and financial resources are the chief impediments to the implementation of personalised learning in the country. Only a select few elite schools are able to facilitate a personalised learning environment to students. In the absence of such learning opportunities in most schools, parents choose to enrol students in coaching classes or appoint private tutors, who charge approximately Rs 2,000 to Rs 5,000 for a student for one month per subject. However, adaptive learning would cost around Rs 100–150 for each student per month, thereby helping students avail quality education at affordable prices.</p>.<p>Additionally, increasing internet and digital system usage in recent years has improved access to digital education, bringing the advantages of adaptive learning to remote areas of the country.</p>.<p class="CrossHead"><strong>Personalised learning paths</strong></p>.<p>One of the key challenges faced in the education sector in the country is that the assessments are not streamlined across institutions, leading to doubts as to whether the students’ individual achievement levels are tested, so that gaps in learning can be effectively bridged. Adaptive learning gives a thorough understanding of a child and her skill level and quantifies the knowledge of the child on different topics accurately through computerised adaptive tests. Based on the feedback, the machine can direct the child to a learning path that is most suitable to him or her.</p>.<p class="CrossHead"><strong>Evaluation in less time</strong></p>.<p>While adaptive learning technology may not ever be able to truly replace a teacher’s evaluation and remediation, it does provide a higher degree of precision in scores and feedback which is not possible for teachers when there are several exams for so many students throughout the year. Aided by a vast question pool, an adaptive test poses customised questions to the learner and provides more accurate scores in less time than standard fixed tests which are so prevalent in the country. This saves teachers’ efforts and helps them focus more on in-class activities and student interaction.</p>.<p class="CrossHead"><strong>Motivating students </strong></p>.<p>The factory method of learning leads to poor academic performance in students who are unable to learn in a rote manner and a lack of motivation in students who find it too tedious to challenge their intellect. Adaptive learning can ensure that students are engaged in learning, for learning is more effective when students learn things in a way that interests them the most. Adaptive learning provides learning materials with the difficulty or knowledge level suited to the current estimate of the student’s proficiency. Therefore, it acts as a morale booster, since the chances of discouragement or boredom are reduced.</p>.<p>Although technology has been a late entrant in the country’s education sector, it has the potential to resolve the problems of this sector, especially that of quality, cost and access.</p>
<p>According to a recent report, the country has more than 1.5 million schools with over 260 million students enrolled and holds one of the topmost positions in the global education industry. Adding, the country is the largest market for e-learning after the US. There has also been an increasing awareness among parents and educators on the dynamic nature of workplace demands and the ineffectiveness of the ‘one-size-fits-all’ method of learning in facing those challenges. The personalisation of learning has, therefore, become the need of the hour and adaptive learning can bring personalised learning to all Indian students.</p>.<p>Adaptive learning is a computer-based educational system that provides learners with their personalised course based on their ability and performance. It requires gaining a thorough understanding of a child’s abilities and quantifying the knowledge level of a child on different topics accurately through assessments. Once the knowledge state and ability of the child is determined, the AI-based adaptive learning technology recommends to students the optimal learning path from its vast pool of resources. </p>.<p class="CrossHead"><strong>Low cost, universal access</strong></p>.<p>Lack of qualified teachers, an ideal student-teacher ratio and financial resources are the chief impediments to the implementation of personalised learning in the country. Only a select few elite schools are able to facilitate a personalised learning environment to students. In the absence of such learning opportunities in most schools, parents choose to enrol students in coaching classes or appoint private tutors, who charge approximately Rs 2,000 to Rs 5,000 for a student for one month per subject. However, adaptive learning would cost around Rs 100–150 for each student per month, thereby helping students avail quality education at affordable prices.</p>.<p>Additionally, increasing internet and digital system usage in recent years has improved access to digital education, bringing the advantages of adaptive learning to remote areas of the country.</p>.<p class="CrossHead"><strong>Personalised learning paths</strong></p>.<p>One of the key challenges faced in the education sector in the country is that the assessments are not streamlined across institutions, leading to doubts as to whether the students’ individual achievement levels are tested, so that gaps in learning can be effectively bridged. Adaptive learning gives a thorough understanding of a child and her skill level and quantifies the knowledge of the child on different topics accurately through computerised adaptive tests. Based on the feedback, the machine can direct the child to a learning path that is most suitable to him or her.</p>.<p class="CrossHead"><strong>Evaluation in less time</strong></p>.<p>While adaptive learning technology may not ever be able to truly replace a teacher’s evaluation and remediation, it does provide a higher degree of precision in scores and feedback which is not possible for teachers when there are several exams for so many students throughout the year. Aided by a vast question pool, an adaptive test poses customised questions to the learner and provides more accurate scores in less time than standard fixed tests which are so prevalent in the country. This saves teachers’ efforts and helps them focus more on in-class activities and student interaction.</p>.<p class="CrossHead"><strong>Motivating students </strong></p>.<p>The factory method of learning leads to poor academic performance in students who are unable to learn in a rote manner and a lack of motivation in students who find it too tedious to challenge their intellect. Adaptive learning can ensure that students are engaged in learning, for learning is more effective when students learn things in a way that interests them the most. Adaptive learning provides learning materials with the difficulty or knowledge level suited to the current estimate of the student’s proficiency. Therefore, it acts as a morale booster, since the chances of discouragement or boredom are reduced.</p>.<p>Although technology has been a late entrant in the country’s education sector, it has the potential to resolve the problems of this sector, especially that of quality, cost and access.</p>