Adaptive Learning Practice for Online Learning and Assessment

Adaptive Learning (AL) is a personalized learning technology. It can customize learning based on pre-determined knowledge state on a particular subject or topic. This assessment driven approach not only allows students to have their own learning path with individual learning nodes or steps, but also provides various formative and summative assessments the students' learning performance. With the appropriate mapping between course learning outcomes and program outcomes, the program outcomes can be assessed through the assessment results of AL in selected courses. Colorado Technical University (CTU) has been using AL technology in their Web-based Learning Management System (LMS) since October of 2012. CTU's AL approach is both assessment driven and facilitator/faculty driven. In this paper, we will share our experience and findings on using AL in Online Computer Science (CS) and Information Technology (IT) courses to enhance student learning and assess the program outcomes for continuous improvement and programmatic accreditation.