Adaptive Learning

Recently, many software programs have been created that help student learning by tailoring specific questions for students based on what the software programs have identified as the specific strengths and weaknesses of the student. The student is unable to progress in a given module until successfully answering all questions on a given topic. Not only does the program provide a multitude of question types, but it also provides answers for incorrect questions to enhance learning. This type of computer-based learning has been termed adaptive learning (Griff & Matter, 2012).

Griff and Matter (2013) evaluated the effectiveness of one adaptive learning system produced and maintained by McGraw Hill Higher Education (MHHE). MHHE calls their adaptive learning program LearnSmart. When comparing groups of students who used LearnSmart with those who did not at several different schools, the results were mixed. Several schools showed significant improvement in scores for students who used the LearnSmart system. Other schools, however, saw no difference in student performance using LearnSmart. One point to remember from this study is that students using LearnSmart always did just as well as the traditionally taught students (Griff & Matter, 2013).

There are many different adaptive learning programs that have been developed by different publishing companies. The following YouTube video links provide a quick demonstration of how each system works. They are not specific to anatomy and physiology, but they do provide a useful illustration about how adaptive learning works.

McGraw Hill Higher Education LearnSmart

 

Jones and Bartlett Nursing Informatics 

Sorry! I was not able to embed the YouTube video for the Jones and Bartlett Nursing Informatics “Measure and Improve Student-Learning Outcomes”. I could easily locate it on YouTube, but when I tried to embed the video using the Blogger program, it could not locate the video I specified in YouTube. Here is the link to the JBL video: Jones and Bartlett Learning YouTube Video Nursing Informatics Student-Learning Demo 

Pearson Higher Education Continuously Adaptive Learning

 

 

The adaptive learning process is a new technique for learning A&P. Although the Griff and Matter (2103) study had mixed results, it was the first such study to look at using adaptive learning for studying anatomy and physiology. They also found a lot of enthusiasm about using adaptive learning from both educators and students. For the future, I anticipate many more studies to be conducted looking into this exciting learning process. If you are an A&P educator, look into using one of these publisher created programs. If you are a student see if you have any of these tools at your disposal. It is well worth the effort.

Personally, I use the Pearson Education MasteringA&P LMS and adaptive learning program. Similar to the Griff and Matter (2013) study, my students also like using the adaptive learning program. They also like that all of their quizzes are online and they may take them at a time that is convenient for them, as long as it is completed before the deadline. There is also a twenty minute time limit for each quiz. I really enjoy using the LMS to create quizzes and assignments and to track student progress as they progress through the term. I highly encourage all educators who have not had a chance to experiment with these types of adaptive LMS’s to give them a try.