Learning in smart environments: user-centered design and analytics of an adaptive learning system

Michail Giannakos,Katerina Mangaroska,Boban Vesin

doi:10.1186/s40561-018-0071-0

Abstract

The complexity of today’s learning processes and practices entails various challenges. It is becoming much harder for teachers to observe, control, and adjust the learning process. Moreover, contemporary teaching is enhanced with different technologies and systems that not only support information-transfer, but also make this process more effective. In this paper we present the Programming Tutoring System (ProTuS), which provides smart and interactive content, personalization options, adaptive features, and learning analytics as a support for users engaged in learning complex cognitive skills. Our contribution in this paper is twofold, conceptual and empirical. The paper presents the interactive learning analytics component developed in ProTuS and the results from the empirical study. The study shows that students find adaptive learning systems to be useful in monitoring progress, promoting reflective practices, and receiving feedback to better understand their actions and learning strategies.

Highlights

There is a great potential for improving learning and teaching at universities around the world by utilizing different tools and methods that support personalized and adaptive learning
In this paper we present the Programming Tutoring System (ProTuS), which provides smart and interactive content, personalization options, adaptive features, and learning analytics as a support for users engaged in learning complex cognitive skills
The research reported in this paper focuses on evaluation of the learning analytics (LA) component as a first step towards more comprehensive implementation of smart learning in ProTuS

Summary

Introduction

There is a great potential for improving learning and teaching at universities around the world by utilizing different tools and methods that support personalized and adaptive learning. This implies that learning environments provide vast amounts of data about students, that can be analyzed and used to build learners’ profiles, personalize the learning experience, automate the assessment, and provide dynamic feedback on the learning progress. ProTuS is an adaptive and interactive learning platform that provides personalization and adaptation to support the learning process ProTuS covers a complex interplay of learning resources, tasks, instructions, social dynamics, and interactions, aimed at helping students learn a complex cognitive skill.

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