Adaptive learning, as its name suggests, is a form of learning that provides focused attention on an individual and individual needs of a learner, and allows for personalized feedback, pathways, and resources. It is an opposite method to providing a one-size-fits-all learning experience and it uses data about a learner’s previous and current learning to create a personalized road through educational material.
Adaptive learning (also known as adaptive teaching or intelligent tutoring) began gaining popularity in the 1970s and has its origins in the AI movement. Back then it was commonly accepted that computers would eventually achieve the human ability of adaptivity, which led to a belief that the tool or system will be able to adjust to the student/user's learning method, which results in a better and more effective learning experience for the user. Adaptive learning systems attempt to transform the learner from passive receptor of information to collaborator in the educational process. In the early phases adaptive learning was mostly linked to digital learning methods, although in the beginning the cost and size of the computers was the main barrier for its widespread application. Along the years adaptive learning systems have been designed as desktop computer applications, web applications, and are now being introduced into overall curricula. Even more than in general education, the approach is often used in business training.
Hence in the context of the Rural Canvas project adaptive learning could be suitable method for art & creative sector professionals who want to get actively involved in the field of entrepreneurship and the business market as employees or freelancers. One can expect that among such a group learners might start off their learning experience at very differentiated levels of prior knowledge and experience. Therefore, the method that adapts the training methodology and material to respond to the strengths and needs of each learner can be certainly very beneficial in such case. Adaptive teaching can either be applied to ‘classroom activities’ or in online environments where learners control their own pace of study. Even though the project itself does not provide a fully adaptive learning platform, the materials and various tools developed and offered via the Rural Canvas allow trainers and educators to use these resources freely in an adaptive and customised way.