An interactive course analyzer for improving learning styles support level

Abstract

Learning management systems (LMSs) contain tons of existing courses but very little attention is paid to how well these courses actually support learners. In online learning, teachers build courses according to their teaching methods that may not fit with students with different learning styles. The harmony between the learning styles that a course supports and the actual learning styles of students can help to magnify the efficiency of the learning process. This paper presents a mechanism for analyzing existing course contents in learning management systems and an interactive tool for allowing teachers to be aware of their course support level for different learning styles of students based on the Felder and Silverman's learning style model. This tool visualizes the suitability of a course for students' learning styles and helps teachers to improve the support level of their courses for diverse learning styles. © 2013 Springer-Verlag.