The problem with traditional, one-size-fits-all learning methods is that they reinforce a fixed mindset. A person with a fixed mindset believes intelligence is innate and unchanging, which can lead to a reluctance to take risks, fear of failure, and a tendency to give up easily when faced with challenges.
A growth mindset, on the other hand, is one in which an individual believes in their potential to learn and grow. Challenges are embraced as opportunities, and setbacks are seen as stepping stones to success. Adaptive AI learning is uniquely positioned to foster growth mindsets.
What Is Adaptive Learning?
Adaptive learning is similar to personalised tutoring, where the tutor adjusts the pace of learning or lesson flow to accommodate their individual learner’s needs. In a Learning Management System (LMS), AI does the adjusting to deliver personalised learning experiences to multiple students at a time.
As learners interact with adaptive course content, the system captures and records their data. This data can include learning style, confidence level, time taken to complete a task or absorb a lesson, knowledge level, and pace and progress.
Using that data, the learning platform modifies the content using an “If THIS, then THAT” approach. It adjusts the difficulty level and creates new learning pathways while providing remediation and just-in-time feedback.
The AI-powered system can share advanced content with fast learners (and even encourage those racing through their screens to slow down to a more mindful pace). The algorithm constantly tracks what the learner knows and what they should experience next, delivering the right item at the right time as students progress.
Through the power of personalisation, each learner’s content and learning path is adapted according to their performance and responses. If a student excels in a particular area, the system will provide more challenging materials; where a learner struggles, the system offers additional support. This approach gives learners control over their learning journey and engages them more deeply with their coursework.
Why Is Adaptive Learning Better Than Traditional Teaching?
Adaptive learning addresses a couple of theories about how people think and learn. One theory is that it helps learners “think about their thinking” (metacognition), which includes understanding their learning style and identifying their knowledge gaps.
Adaptive content also adjusts content delivery according to learner weaknesses, challenging learners and pulling them out of their comfort zones. At the same time, learning methods such as gamification — where students can earn “points” (or another form of social recognition) based on their usage or progression — increase their engagement, further boosting their confidence.
However, the most crucial difference between an adaptive learning platform and a traditional learning platform is how it combats the “forgetting curve.” First described by Hermann Ebbinghaus, this curve is our natural tendency to forget information over time, especially when it’s not reinforced through practice and review, and when it is not connected to prior knowledge.
An adaptive learning platform takes this forgetting curve head-on by using learner data to predict when a concept is likely to disappear from an employee’s memory. It then reintroduces the concept to help the learners retain knowledge.
7 Ways Adaptive Learning Technologies Improve Educational Outcomes
Adaptive learning leads to numerous positives for both employees and employers. Here are the most important points:
- Personalised and engaged learning experiences and tailored learning content significantly increase course completion rates.
- When the difficulty of the material is adjusted, it prevents boredom or the learner from being overwhelmed.
- With adoptive platforms’ built-in Creativity Razor, the learner gets a 360-degree view of a problem or topic — without being distracted by unnecessary information.
- It’s time-efficient because the system prioritises topics that a learner struggles with, helping them focus only where it’s most needed.
- Real-time/just-in-time feedback helps learners understand mistakes and correct them on the spot, enhancing their comprehension.
- Data provides educators with valuable insights into student performance and can inform eLearning content development.
- Adaptive learning platforms can scale to accommodate large numbers of students, offering personalised learning experiences to each without the need for additional teaching staff.
Case in Point: aNewSpring – A Leader in Adaptive Learning
A great example of a highly successful adaptive learning platform is the multi-award-winning aNewSpring, recognised globally for its innovative learning technology and excellence in adaptive learning and personalised education solutions.
It uses adaptive learning technology to continuously monitor learner progress, identify knowledge gaps, and adjust the content delivery. The flexible, intelligent platform can adjust courses and content according to multiple factors, such as diverse target audiences, starting levels and times, and required knowledge, allowing each student to succeed in their own way.
One of the key features of the aNewSpring platform is its ability to work alongside blended learning. Take, for example, an emergency vehicle driving course designed by aNewSpring, where learners engage in diverse learning activities such as quizzes and driving simulations in an adaptive learning environment. This virtual learning would be complemented by retention-focused classroom lessons, where students could ask questions and dive deeper into tricky topics before returning to the LMS to test their knowledge.
Interestingly, aNewSpring conducted a study on the importance of investing in personalised learning. It found that, compared to traditional eLearning, adaptive learning reduces study time by as much as 33% — all while maintaining similar levels of learner satisfaction, learning results, and self-efficacy.
What To Be Aware of in Adaptive Learning
Creating adaptive learning paths often requires a deep knowledge of didactics and instructional design, which can be challenging, costly, and time-consuming to develop. This makes buying a flexible, adaptive LMS a good option.
To be deployed effectively, adaptive learning systems must include training for teachers so they don’t feel disenfranchised. Adaptive systems are meant to enhance trainers’ roles, and they should be regarded as one of many tools that form part of a broader, blended digital learning strategy.
When investing in an adaptive LMS, Learning and Development managers must ensure the provider offers the right set of features and adequate support to enable them to roll out their adaptive learning strategy successfully. Also, adaptive learning systems generate a lot of data, so it’s up to your team to sort through, interpret, and analyse it to continually improve the learning experience.
What Does the Future Hold for Adaptive Learning?
As AI evolves, adaptive learning platforms will evolve alongside it. Wearable devices have huge potential for enhanced training and on-the-job guidance, and the increased use of AR, VR and Mixed Reality in eLearning content development will provide practical applications and more immersive training experiences.
Predictive analytics will help businesses tailor interventions and support, ultimately boosting learning outcomes. Down the line, big data analytics will assess and improve training programmes more quickly and efficiently.
We also expect to see increased engagement initiatives that create incentives (both intrinsic and extrinsic) so students use the platform consistently.
Final Words
Adaptive learning has revolutionised the learning experience. It offers a powerful way to personalise instruction while helping learners develop a growth mindset. With the help of an adaptive learning platform, organisations will save valuable time and energy while giving students more agency over their learning.
As adaptive learning continues to evolve, New Leaf Technologies expects even more innovative solutions to further revolutionise how we learn and retain information.
