As you know, teaching strategies, such as Adaptive Learning, have been evolving to increasingly focus on the student and adapt to their demands.
And because? What has happened for there to be such a need for coupling of teaching? Why should we offer training according to each student profile?
We already told you that the answers have a lot to do with satisfying the ‘current’ demands of today’s students so that they learn much better, both remotely and in mixed mode.
Throughout the post, we will delve into this topic so that you understand why you should implement this adaptive teaching as soon as possible.
Adaptive learning what it is and what its benefits
Adaptive learning is typical of the incorporation of technology into training.
That is, it consists of the fluid and automatic modification of the educational proposal to adapt it to the needs of each student. In this way, the educational environment is the one that adapts and not the other way around.
In traditional training, the idea of adapting times to the requirements of each student was an impossibility that, in addition to hindering learning, fueled frustration.
Now, with the establishment of new technologies and, therefore, e-learning, it has been possible to establish a way for everyone to be able to achieve the same educational goals: adaptive learning.
Adaptive learning is based on computer algorithms that use artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques to monitor and analyze the student’s evaluation at all times.
In this way it is possible to personalize learning, adjusting the content and sequence presented to the student.
It should be noted that when we talk about ‘personalize’, we are not only referring to adapting teaching to individual learning rhythms and styles.
We also refer to the fact of responding to attractions and interests.
Benefits of adaptive learning as a teaching method
Why offer adaptive education to your students?
As we have been commenting, the way of teaching and the demands of students have changed. For this reason, we cannot question whether or not to offer adaptive learning, since it is a well-founded method that brings great advantages to students.
- They will learn better and faster, which increases productivity in the classroom
- You will achieve extraordinary results since the system fully adapts to your particular needs.
- They will have the possibility of exhaustive and immediate monitoring of the knowledge acquired and the aspects to improve
- They will get involved in the process and its progress, thereby achieving a lot of motivation.
- They will have learning adapted to their weaknesses and strengths
- They will improve digital skills, having to function in the learning environment through an e-learning platform
What are the advantages for the teacher?
At the same time, as an online teacher, you also have many reasons to opt for adaptive teaching. These, without going any further:
- You will know the students in-depth: abilities, weaknesses, strengths, learning styles
- You will be able to plan new formulas to communicate with students and redirect them based on their particular difficulties
- You will guide learning and strengthen the skills of trainees in a faster and more efficient way
- You will adapt the training materials to the students (and at any time)
- You will be able to track learning and know its evolution
- You will be able to deliver new training actions (develop other activities according to their levels and situations)
How to apply adaptive learning in the classroom
We know about the adaptation or personalization of learning for each student. But how do we make it possible?
To carry out adaptive learning, it is essential to have adaptive learning technologies.
And what is ‘adaptive learning technologies’?
Adaptive learning technologies, or adaptive learning platforms, are the place where you will make personalized and automated learning possible for thousands of students at a time.
This is achieved thanks to these algorithms that develop the student’s learning path based on their native knowledge and what they should learn.
Therefore, if you already have a diagnosis and use a multipurpose learning platform, you will be able to share the content of the course and connect with those who are part of the training process.
The role of the e-learning platform
Provides information per student and sheds light on the progress of each of them
Mainly, monitoring and evolution reports, history of activities and exams, times and attempts when performing tasks …
By knowing their strengths and weaknesses you will be able to determine their progression through the course.
Personalize instruction to student needs
Thus, you will be able to generate class materials and provide some content or others depending on the preferences and learning styles of your students.
Allows you to modify the agenda and configuration of the activities
That is, if you observe that students have difficulties or deficiencies in a particular area, you can generate new types of activities according to their level.
Adapt assessments to reinforce learning
Specifically, it has great tools and configurations to redirect students with specific needs.
We are talking about multi-response tests or fundamental self-training to reinforce those points in which they encounter difficulties.
Promote feedback with remote cooperation instruments
Such is the case of the synchronous communication tools it provides so you can connect with students instantly. For example, chats, video conferences for online tutoring, digital whiteboards…
Likewise, others for delayed interaction such as discussion forums, instant messaging, or bulletin boards.
This opens the possibility of examining errors seen in the course approach
Thanks to the number of reports and statistics it provides on your courses, you will be able to have a global view of how things have gone and implement improvements for future courses.
Example of adaptive learning
An example of adaptive learning is that which is very often done at the beginning of a course.
It consists of making an initial evaluation of the knowledge that the group of students already has about the subjects to be taught and thus determining the teaching strategy.
With this methodology, we can do two adaptation actions :
- On the one hand, if in the initial evaluation, we observe that prior knowledge is lower than expected, we can lower the level or start the course by teaching the basic concepts.
- On the other hand, if we detect that they have a high degree of knowledge of the teachings to be taught, we can raise the level from the beginning.
In any case, the manipulation of the content does not alter the final expectations and objectives. That is, having to start at a lower level does not mean that you can no longer get to where you initially planned.
The good thing about adaptive learning is that it allows you to make corrections and intensify or relax the pace of study, as appropriate, to reach the desired level.
Of course, for everything to work it is essential to maintain orderly planning, with ambitious but feasible results.
However, the effort required is not exclusive to the teaching staff, the institution, and the e-learning technologies. Adaptive learning also requires students.
The main challenges of adaptive learning
Indeed, adaptive learning is autonomous and students must have the ability to organize themselves.
Therefore, a challenge is posed that, at the same time, is an opportunity, since the acquisition of this capacity is vital to perform almost any job.
So, regardless of the subject the course covers, the student must be able to self-administer.
Ultimately, the platform and the educators will act as a guide, but the student is the one who must be disciplined and make the effort to get where they need to be.
