What is Adaptive Training?

Adaptive training is training in which the problem, the stimulus, or the task is varied as a function of how well the trainee performs. The concept and techniques of adaptive training are introduced and a comparison drawn between different methods of adaptation. The preferred method keeps measured performance constant by changing the difficulty of the task. Fundamental characteristics of adaptive trainers are enumerated and contrasted with fixed trainers. The implementation of an adaptive training system is then discussed under the following headings, (1) choosing an adaptive variable, (2) measuring performance, (3) the adaptive logic, (4) error standard and difficulty level, and (5) knowledge-of-results displays. A concluding section cautions against expecting adaptive techniques to correct training devices with inherently poor training validity.