Implementation of Adaptive Learning Systems: Current State and Potential

Abstract

Adaptive learning systems have been on the rise ever since the beginnings of e-learning. Their ability to provide instructions, guidance and content tailored towards learners’ individual needs bears a lot of potential for optimising learning processes. Due to recent technological advances, adaptive systems have become more sophisticated and prevalent. This chapter serves the purpose of characterising research in the field of adaptive learning by referring to six questions central to the adaptive process. We hereby provide an overview over various options on how adaptive systems can be designed and implemented in terms of core models, reasons for and goals of adaptation, learner characteristics, contexts and instructional techniques and methods. This chapter also highlights the current state of the research in that area, focussing on the effectiveness and efficiency of adaptive learning systems, as well as learners’ satisfaction with them and their actual implementation in various contexts. We end the chapter by presenting practical implications and future potential adaptive learning holds.