During a meeting earlier this week I found myself in an alphabet soup of educational jargon. I knew that after the meeting I needed to research the terms I had just heard. So, now that I am researching these terms, I thought I would share my findings.
The first of these buzzwords was Adaptive Blended Learning. Thankfully my Google search turned up a 2006 article on the subject written by a group of authors at Vanderbilt University. I am going to take their lead and explain the term by breaking it down into adaptive learning and blended learning.
Adaptive Learning can be defined as creating a computer system that delivers the next instructional unit based on the learner’s responses. The software does not have a pre-determined path that each learner takes. Adaptive learning technologies respond to the input of the student and responds accordingly (and instantly).
Blended Learning is the use of both asynchronous learning tasks (the student is working independently) with synchronous learning tasks (the student is working with a group) during a unit of instruction. In a blended learning environment, both asynchronous and synchronous learning is used in order to maximize student achievement.
So, adaptive blended learning is the use of technology to respond to student input by identifying the most appropriate learning activity (either asynchronous or synchronous).
Well, now I have a basic understanding of the first of the three buzzwords discussed during this meeting. Over the next few days I hope to define the other two.
Reference
Howard, Larry, Remenyi, Zsolt, & Pap, Gabor (2006). Adaptive Blended Learning Environments. 9th International Conference on Engineering Education.