The Concept of Adaptive Learning
Adaptive learning is one of the modern trends used in the development of education, and the most widespread in e-learning environments. It is also considered one of the most important educational and technological innovations that have appeared in recent years as an entrance that provides appropriate learning for each learner according to his individual characteristics that distinguish him from other learners.
It also helps in organizing electronic content and facilitating access to it, and in carrying out educational activities in accordance with the nature and individual characteristics of the learners.
Names of adaptive learning:
Through the researcher’s review of many literatures that dealt with adaptive learning, it became clear that there were many other names that were used to denote the same concept of the term “adaptive learning”, and among these names [1]:
- Adaptive learning
- Consistent learning
- Learning based on learners’ responses
- Differentiated learning
- Adaptive smart content
- Adaptive Ultra Media
- Adaptive Learning
However, the term adaptive learning is perhaps the most logical and significant term, and even the most common and used at the same time within the educational community, in addition to the ease of use of the term and its widespread circulation among teachers and learners. Hence, the current research adopted the term adaptive learning.
Adaptive Learning Concept:
The literature abounds with many definitions of adaptive learning, and the following is a brief presentation of these definitions:
Brusilovsky (2003, p.161) defines adaptive learning as: an educational method that uses technological innovations in various forms as interactive educational tools, and builds its contents in light of the individual characteristics of each learner, and these innovations adapt the presentation of educational contents according to the needs of learners.
This is evident from their responses to questions, tasks, and experiences, depending on the employment of theories and research results related to the fields of technology, computer science, education, and psychology[2].
Paramythis & Loidl (2004, p.33) define adaptive learning as: a system that monitors learner activities, interprets them on the basis of domain-specific models, and analyzes learner preferences, and these models help facilitate the learning process based on providing data that is appropriate And the nature of every learner [3].
Izumi, Fathers & Clemens, 2013, p.5 defined adaptive learning technology as: the software from which the student learns and changes his behavior based on its input, and allows interaction with a wide base of learning methods that are based on the theoretical concept of adaptive learning[4] ].
Bower (2015, p.109) defines adaptive learning as: a method for creating an educational experience for the student, and for the teacher as well, based on the formation of a set of information in a specific period; Aiming to increase performance against a set of pre-established criteria, learning design is strategically modified through lessons to meet learners’ requirements[5].
Khamis (2016, p. 240) defines it as: an e-learning system that includes content rich in information and based on meanings, multi-objectives that are not specific to one goal or one technology, is suitable for most individuals and adapts to their multiple educational needs, learning style, and preferences, and is used in different situations. multiple, with the aim of providing appropriate learning for each individual to facilitate his learning in the light of his inputs, and the information he obtains [6].
Mahmoud, Abdel-Wahhab (2018, p. 16) defines adaptive learning as: a learning system that employs theories, strategies, and results of studies and research related to the fields of communication and information, computers, education, psychology, and artificial intelligence.
It also relies on a set of material and non-material components interacting with each other, and aims to facilitate the learning process, and to provide appropriate learning for each learner by providing adaptive or adaptable educational contents in light of the individual characteristics of each learner, which are determined based on his responses, previous experiences and performance in The tasks assigned to him, in a way that helps his adaptation, increase his motivation, and his continuity in the learning process, leading to mastery [7].
Definition conclusions:
From the previous definitions of adaptive learning, it is clear that:
- Adaptive learning is one of the recent trends that are employed in e-learning environments.
- Employing and using technological innovations in various forms and tools to achieve the desired educational goals.
- It takes into account the different characteristics among the learners.
- It depends on monitoring learners’ responses and analyzing them in order to provide what suits them.
- It relies mainly on teaching and learning theories, and research findings related to many fields such as communication technology, computers, education, and psychology.
- It does not adopt a single method or method in presenting information to the learners, but rather diversifies those methods and methods in accordance with the different characteristics of the learners.
- It is considered a system with its inputs, processes and outputs.
- A system capable of managing the learning path for each individual individually.
- Adaptive learning systems differ from intelligent routing systems or adaptive hypermedia systems, in that the latter two incorporate additional methods of artificial intelligence.
- It relies on a set of material and non-material components interacting with each other, with the aim of facilitating the learning process.
- It is based on providing educational contents that are adaptive or adaptable in light of the individual characteristics of each learner.