Introducing Adaptivity to eLessons to Enhance Student Learning

Abstract

In order to improve the learning process for students with different pre-knowledge, personal characteristics and preferred learning styles, a certain degree of adaptability must be introduced to eCourses. In learning environments that support such courses students can explicitly choose different paths through their contents or can be directed to different parts of the instructional material depending on the pace of their advancement in acquiring new knowledge. However, so variously structured and fully functional eLessons can be realized only in an environment that supports multiple modes of successful learning. This paper presents the basics of the implementation of such an environment. The authors first advocate why adaptability is useful in eLessons, and subsequently offer the possibilities for its implementation, by using and extending an Open Source Learning Management System Moodle. As a result, eLessons have useful ability to reference parts of other eLessons within the course from any point of the current eLesson. Conditional jumps from one learning object to the other, i.e. tracing students’ advancement and modifying their learning paths, are introduced as well. Additionally, instructional designers are offered the means to construct adaptive sequencing in a pre-test => study => post-test structured activities. Therefore, learners may either skip or review learning activities depending on the outcome of the diagnostic tests. eLessons can be developed as sets of interconnected topics that are able to exchange information between them and students' learning paths in a more flexible way. Hence, eCourses can consist of numerous interrelated eLessons, providing improved reusability of learning material and extended flexibility for both teachers and learners. The proposed solution is based on well-known theoretical postulates, as well as needs emerged in contemporary practice. Its special strength is recognized in user-friendly implementation which makes the development of (semi-)adaptive eLessons quite straightforward, using a somewhat upgraded regular learning management system.