According
to a research paper, students taking a HarvardX massive open online course learned
more using adaptive assessments than their classmates who didn't have that
opportunity. The study focused on the course Super-Earths and Life, which ran
in in the current academic year.
The adaptive-learning group was provided interactive content and assistance
crafted to suit their individual learning level through TutorGen’s Student
Centered Adaptive Learning Engine (SCALE). Assessments were added for both the
experimental and control groups to gauge the effect of the adaptive experience
on students’ mastery of the material.
The knowledge gain of the students
in the experimental group was 19% higher than their peers in the control group.
They also moved through the class material more quickly and demonstrated
greater persistence in assessments. Despite this, the study found “no
statistically significant differences” between the two groups’
course-completion or certification rates.