Adaptive Learning – Using AI to Enhance the Learning Experience

I told my team a few weeks ago that I have started learning Arabic. There were a few raised eye-brows and finally, “Why Arabic?” Well, Arabic is so far removed from all the other languages I have learned, and I needed a new challenge. And I can do this on my mobile using Duolingo.

Duolingo is a platform that includes a free language-learning website and app. The company reaches over 300 million users with more than 32 language courses. Yip, you read that correctly, 300 million users. That is a lot of data, and yet, they still manage to tailor the learning to my specific needs.

They use Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) to personalize my learning. It goes so deep that for each word in the curriculum, Duolingo tracks how many times I’ve seen it, how many times I’ve gotten it correct, the modes in which I got it correct, and how long it’s been since I’ve practiced it. Using AI, Duolingo can predict the probability that I will be able to recall that word in context. And they determine what I need to keep practicing, exactly when I need it.

Using AI and ML for adaptive learning

While learning a language is a far cry from ERP education and training, the use of AI and ML to personalize and enhance the learning experience is not. At SYSPRO, our goal is to create a personalized experience, and we’re embarking on utilizing AI to do this, with the end goal being adaptive learning. This is exactly what Duolingo does. Adaptive learning delivers tailored learning experiences that address the unique needs of an individual through resources, pathways, and just-in-time feedback.  This is done using algorithms to orchestrate the interaction with the learner and then deliver customized content to address the learner’s needs.

The Key Benefits of Adaptive Learning

• Adaptive learning has many benefits, but I’ve chosen two which speak to our industry:
• It can save time – instead of following a prescribed learning path for all learners in the same role, you can fast-track the learning based on existing knowledge and skills. You will spend time on new knowledge and skills.
• It’s focused – by identifying exactly which areas need attention, learners need only focus on knowledge or skills they still need to master, not what they have already mastered.

Implementing AI in a Learning Management System

Practically implementing AI is not a matter of turning it on and letting the algorithms play out. You need to ensure that you first have the necessary data and that it can be used in a meaningful way. The benefit of any Learning Management System is that it gathers learner data as well as content data. You just need to be clear about what to analyze and why.

Making the move from a content provider to an enhanced learning experience is not easy, but it is certainly worth the effort. Especially if you want to keep learners engaged and coming back for more.