1. Transformations in Teaching
Adapting to Adaptivity
Transformations in Teaching
and Learning
Southeast Digital Learning Forum
UNC Charlotte, February 2019
Dale P. Johnson
Director, Adaptive Learning Initiatives

2. The future is already here – it's just not evenly distributed.
William Gibson 1993

3. Your Guide on this adaptive adventure
Biology
Chemistry
College Algebra
College Math
Economics
General Science
History
Physics
Psychology
Dale P. Johnson
Director, Adaptive Learning Initiatives, Arizona State University

4. INSIGHT Why do we need adaptive courseware? Who needs help?
College Mathematics course
INSIGHT
What’s the best way to help?
What do they need help with?
Who needs help?
What does that mean? What does it look like in practice?
Progress based on performance not semester schedule.

5. Why do we need adaptive courseware?
ATTENTION

6. TRANSFORMATION Why do we need adaptive courseware?
Mass Personalization
Mass Production
Mass Personalization
Mass Production
Mass Production
Mass Personalization
TRANSFORMATION
Entertainment (albums to iPod)
Navigation (maps to GPS)
Transportation (taxis to Uber)
EDUCATION (lecture to adaptive learning systems)

7. What does that mean for our future? Mass Personalization
Mass Production
Right Student
Same Lesson
All Students
Same Time
Adaptive systems will allow us to do mass personalization
Right Time
Right Lesson

8. How can we address those challenges?
Bloom’s Taxonomy
Active Learning
in class
Adaptive Learning
before class

9. How does this adaptive+active approach work in practice?
1. ACQUIRE INFO
Read textbook,
watch video,
do simulation, etc.
2. ASSESS
Do practice problems, take quiz before class
Prove
Participate
Prepare
ADAPTIVE SYSTEM
ACTIVE CLASS
4. ASSIMILATE
Write essay, solve problems, take quiz, etc.
3. APPLY
Solve problems and collaborate with classmates.

10. How can faculty use this approach?
Prove
Participate
Prepare
Exam
Scientific Method
Biodiversity
Body Systems
Energy
Physiology
Evolution
Biology and Society
Photosynthesis
Genetics and DNA
Lab

11. What results have we had at ASU?
Introduction to Biology (Fall 2015 implemented CogBooks)
Same instructor, curriculum and assessment

12. What results have we had at ASU?
Microeconomics (Fall 2017 implemented Cengage Learning Objects)
Same instructor, curriculum and assessment

13. What results have we had at ASU?
College Algebra (Fall 2016 implemented McGraw Hill ALEKS)
Same instructors, curriculum and assessments.

14. What about results for different demographic groups?
College Algebra
AY increases in success rates among all groups

15. How are adaptive systems different?
Static
Dynamic
Personalized
- Content Common
LMS ADAPTIVE
- Lesson Plan Fixed
Variable
Individual
- Presentation Group

16. 3 Rs How do the systems help students? Respect their prior knowledge
Respond to their learning needs
Reduce gaps in their understanding
Personalize
3 Rs

17. 3 Ms How do the systems help faculty?
Monitor which students need assistance
Measure curriculum performance
Maximize course outcomes
3 Ms
Tracking

18. What is adapting to the student?
Lesson sequence
Content selection
Algorithm (analytics) – recommendations
Assessment – rapid remediation
Association – lesson relationships
Agency – student chooses
What is guiding the adaptation?

19. How are the Lessons sequenced?
Lesson Chart (or Knowledge Map, Skill Graph, etc.)
Basic Math
Algebra
Calculus
Course Configuration
Lesson 1
L-2
L-5
L-7
L-x
L-4
L-3
L-6

20. How is Content adapting to the student?
Content (or Resource, Material, Text, Video, Exercise, Problem, etc.)
Learning Loop
Lesson #1
Lesson X
Algorithm
Assessment
Association
Agency
Content
Algorithm
Assessment
Association
Agency
Content
Algorithm
Assessment
Association
Agency

21. How do students experience Lesson adaptivity?
Lesson Library
Lesson
Instructional Materials
Practice Problems
Assessment Instruments
Algorithm
Assessment
Association
Agency
Student
Lesson
Objective
Assessments
Content
Lesson
Instructional Materials
Practice Problems
Assessment Instruments
Lesson
Objective
Content
Assessments
Content

22. What does adaptivity look like to a student?
Vendors use a mix of the different techniques:
Algorithm
Assessment
Association
Agency
Agency
How well did you understand The Nature of Energy?
I didn’t understand
I completely understood
Algorithm
We recommend the following content:
Association
These may also help:
Assessment

23. How are these techniques implemented?
Personalized Lesson Sequence (Algorithm, Association, Agency)
Lesson 1
L-3
L-5
L-4
L-6
L-7
L-x
L-2
Personalized Lesson Sequence
Lesson 1
L-3
L-5
L-4
L-6
L-7
L-x
L-2
Personalized Lesson Sequence
Content Customization
Rapid Remediation
Personalized Review

24. How are these techniques implemented?
Rapid Remediation (Assessment)
Lesson 1
L-2
L-5
L-7
L-x
L-4
L-3
L-6

25. How are these techniques implemented?
Content Customization (Algorithm, Assessment, Agency)
Lesson #5
Lesson 1
L-2
Content Library
Content
Video A
Video B
L-3
Algorithm
Assessment
Agency

26. How are these techniques implemented?
Personalized Review (Algorithm, Assessment)
Lesson 1
L-3
L-5
L-4
L-6
L-7
L-x
L-2
Lesson 1
L-3
L-5
L-4
L-6
L-7
L-x
L-2
L-1
L-3
L-5
L-4
L-6
L-7
L-x
L-2
Adaptive Test Prep
Review materials in:
Lesson 3 (quiz score 69%)
Lesson 4 (quiz score 58%)
Lesson 7 (quiz score 72%)

27. How can we make this dream a reality?
Faculty
Technologists
Vendor
Personnel
Instructional Designers
Faculty
Technologists
Vendor
Personnel
Instructional Designers
Faculty
Technologists
Vendor
Personnel
Instructional Designers
Faculty
Technologists
Vendor
Personnel
Instructional Designers
Graphic
Designers
Librarians
Others?
Video Producers
Graphic
Designers
Librarians
Others?
Video Producers
Graphic
Designers
Librarians
Leaders
Video Producers
Graphic
Designers
Librarians
Others?
Video Producers
Ed tech is a team sport, so plan accordingly.

28. WE ARE HERE! What does the future hold for adaptive systems?
Where are we in the personalization process?
The systems are scaling up rapidly.
WE ARE HERE!

29. The best way to predict the future is to invent it.
Alan Kay 1982

30. Thank You for paying attention!
Dale Johnson