Adaptive learning

If we compare the seminars of the past with today’s eLearning, the greatest challenge remains the perceived lack of relevance to learners. Whereas seminar leaders know their participants and can respond to their individual needs, eLearning is often not aware of learners’ requirements and learning environments. The solution is individualization. As has long been known from other digital sectors, digital content can also be adapted automatically or manually to individual users on the basis of user data and behavior, thereby generating an individual learning experience. This is what is known as adaptive learning. The result is more effective learning, greater learner motivation, and thus guaranteed success!

The megatrend of individualization is everywhere—in entertainment, online advertising, services, and products that are tailored to our personal preferences and needs. It is also possible—and urgently necessary—to individualize digital learning. Because in addition to all the benefits that eLearning brings, the digitalization of content poses the challenge of how to give learners personalized attention. The solution is adaptive learning.

Adaptive learning means differentiated teaching, i.e., that is adjusted to the needs of individual learners. This approach has a significant impact on learners’ achievement, since ultimately each individual acquires knowledge in a different ways and at their own pace.

If information about learners, their learning environments, learning speeds, and learning times was previously unavailable and was not taken into account, an adaptive approach allows eLearning to be continuously adjustment to the current learning situation. This is based on user data and the behavior (keywords: learning analytics). In addition to demographic and other static data on learning environments, learners’ verbal and non-verbal feedback is also taken into account.

This includes indicators such as:

• interactions
• answering questions
• digital absence (closing the device, focus)
• environment (device, location, noise, etc.)
• peers / learning groups.

These are interpreted either automatically or manually. As a result, eLearning content, methods, structures, and delivery can be tailored to the needs of each learner.

In addition to the general benefits of eLearning (learning any time and anywhere, cost savings, standardized quality, interactivity, etc.), adaptive learning also offers a large number of specific benefits:

Knowledgeworker Share is a clearly structured learning management system that delivers the online courses you have created in the authoring tool to specific target groups. The platform also helps you take an assured and professional approach to learning management, teaching duties, and company communications.

In Knowledgeworker Share, you also define what are known as learning paths. These indicate the order in which courses or course sections are to be completed. They also allow you to set tests from time to time, which will allow learners to jump to a new point on the path depending on their marks. For example, if someone achieves full marks on a test, this will unlock the next course and even allow them to skip certain sections. If someone does not achieve the required result, they can repeat sections as necessary. This basic structure is clearly visualized and gives teachers and learners an overview of the upcoming learning process.