Adaptive Learning from Theory to Practice Ryan Luke Shira Rabin Delphi Center Department of Biology

Obstacles in Your Class Come up with example: how to know your students read section 1 in book? By them selves, then ask for obstacle

Obstacles in Your Class Varying levels of student preparedness—and how do we know? Student engagement Best use of class time (how many questions should I answer?) Shifting some content delivery outside of class

Why Adaptive Learning Many of these obstacles can be overcome with adaptive learning courseware

Adaptive Learning Technique for personalized or individualized learning Customized learning path for students may be non-linear Formative assessment may lead to remediation or directed instruction Dynamically adjusts to student interactions and performance

Adaptive Courseware Technology tool to facilitate adaptive learning Makes adaptive learning possible for large classes Can deliver content and/or assignments Customizable to meet instructors needs Provides formative assessment in real time Off-the-shelf products and custom built products

Differences ?? Variable Individual Personalized Fixed Lesson Plan Group Presentation Individual Common Content Personalized

HOW ?? Remediation Repeat Modules Next Competency Next Module Remediation Repeat Modules Algorithms Assessment Student Feedback Instructor Adjustments Instructor Intervention Varied Media Achieved Mastery Demonstrated Competency Mention “Remember’ happens within courseware and “analyze, apply” in class

Why use Custom Built Courseware? PROS CONS Own content Less expensive Textbook-agnostic Decide learning path Instructor time Finding content

Custom Built Courseware OpenStax Realize It

Publisher-provided material PROS CONS Time Content available Easier to implement Strict association with textbook More expensive Learning path is set Instructors can see how many students have completed each activity, and how individual students are performing, as well as composite results for the class as a whole.  

Remediation Can assign material as homework that don’t want to cover in class For example, basic chemistry in my biology class Frees up time for more important/more interesting material

Flashcards Cerego Mastery Training Definitions, ID of picture Timed intervals (~5 hr) to prevent cramming 10-15 minutes each time Goal variable

Flashcards PROS CONS Ease of editing material Many different types of cards Timed method prevents cramming  increased learning and retention Odd that only 1 or 2 types were used Memorizing definitions is a poor way of learning material  lack of understanding common Application?

Textbook Study Plan with Completion Pearson Dynamic Study Module 10-15 MC questions Tells student what part of the chapter needs extra focus Students also indicate how confident they are Quiz results give student extra MC questions in challenging sections (and must indicate confidence in all)

Textbook Study Plan with Completion PROS CONS Because MC, easy to add in extra questions for material not in textbook Focuses each student’s learning on exactly where they’re weak MC is the least engaging, least active way to learn Only studying help is with more MC questions! Is it fair to require some students to do far more work than others (even if they need it)? Cheating in the initial assessment would be significant

Textbook Study Plan without Completion LearningCurve with MacMillan 20-30 minute quiz with 5 questions per topic Students who understand the material proceed relatively quickly. Students who need more help will take longer to master a concept. Max points with correct answer and decreasing points with hints; HW complete when reach set # of points Study plan over subjects the student doesn’t know as well Student does NOT need to complete plan

Textbook Study Plan without Completion PROS CONS Engaging options: Look at the relevant (linked) portion of the text before answering, have one answer removed, or just show the answer. Not punitive Secretly helps students learn material Will students continue studying with the study plan? Will they find appropriate questions from non-adaptive part? Most negative: completely integrated with a specific textbook Editing in/out material is difficult

Reading Textbook McGraw Hill Most important parts of each chapter are highlighted in yellow Questions about the chapter supplemented with a confidence bar Includes suggested resources including slides, videos, or references back to the particular page in the book Book paragraphs turns green as students demonstrate knowledge and confidence

Reading Textbook Great way to study and learn material PROS CONS Great way to study and learn material Paragraph coloring very smart –focuses attention on most important parts at that particular moment Would have been great to direct students to appropriate non-adaptive material Again, specific to text and very difficult to add/remove information

Which one will solve your obstacle(s)? Custom or Publisher-provided? Remediation Flashcards Study Plan with Completion Study Plan without Completion Reading textbook Quizz-izz

Before Class: After Class: Understand Remember After Class: Apply Analyze Evaluate Create

Study Plan using Textbook Subsections LearningCurve with MacMillan 20-30 minute quiz with 5 questions per topic Max points with correct answer and decreasing points with hints; HW complete when reach set # of points Study plan over subjects the student doesn’t know as well Student does NOT need to complete plan

Wiley 20-30 question quiz; ask confidence in answers Proficiency measured by accuracy, difficulty of question, and confidence Study plan devised with appropriate MC questions

Wiley Review Interspersed videos with reading to keep students engaged PROS CONS Interspersed videos with reading to keep students engaged Quiz after video tested for understanding MC questions and option to re- read the text in study plan Again, must follow the textbook Not easy to edit in or out for either part