E-Questionnaire for Innovative Adaptive-Learning Scheme

As broadband connectivity to the Internet becomes faster, Web-based learning systems have appeared and play an important role for self-learning, especially for working people. Most of the systems are not adapting to the learner, so the learner has to spend a lot of time before reaching the learning goal that is suitable for him or her (Solomos & Avouris, 1999). This procedure may discourage the learner from continuing his or her studies (Bixler & Spotts, 2000; Fitzelle & Trochim, 2000). To overcome these difficulties, we have to design an e-learning system that will be adapted to the learner’s ICT level and knowledge. In our proposal, we introduce an e-learning schema that has these characteristics. Specifically, we consider the IEEE reference model (WG) of the Learning Technology Standards Committee and use it to model the architecture of an e-learning system. Our approach is based on the usage of electronic questionnaires (e-questionnaires) that are designed by experts and aim to detect the learner’s ICT level and learning preferences prior to the learning experience as well as after its completion. Through the analysis of learner responses to questionnaires, learners may be assigned to their corresponding learner profiles so that they are served with learning material that best matches their needs. The structure of the article is the following. In the first section “Description of the E-Technology Application,” we briefly present the generic structure of the e-learning system, as specified in the IEEE reference model (WG) of the Learning Technology Standards Committee, and then we present our approach to this model. Continuing, we outline the profile adaptation method that is used in our schema. Finally, in the section “Impact of the E-Technology Application,” we refer to the SPERO project, in the framework in which the proposed system is being applied, and finally we list our concluding remarks.