FST Graduate Research Topic

Research Topic: Considering Course Development Modes for Adaptivity in Learning Management Systems (project)
Suggested By: Sabine Graf
Last Update: September 14th, 2011

[This topic can be selected as master’s project] This project aims at extending an already existing adaptive mechanism to be applied in different course development modes, leading to more flexibility in developing adaptive courses. The adaptive mechanism aims at enabling learning systems to automatically generate courses that fit to students’ learning styles and has been used at different educational institutions. Currently, this adaptive mechanism is developed for the learning management system Moodle and to support courses that include single learning objects. Recently, different modes of course development have been integrated in Moodle such as using IMS learning design or ibooks. The aim of this project is to extend the existing mechanism so that it can also be used for other development modes. The first part of this project is to conduct a literature review on adaptivity in learning management systems and to investigate the different development modes available in Moodle as well as their usage in online courses. The second part of this project is to identify the most promising development mode for courses in Moodle. The third part of this project is to extend the existing adaptive algorithm so that it works additionally for the respective development mode. This includes the re-design of the adaptive mechanism so that it automatically detects the respective development mode and adapts the course respectively. The extended adaptive mechanism will then be tested and evaluated through proof of concept evaluation. This project might require communication/arrangements with other Master’s students who will work on a similar topic. Requirements: *) Interest in the topic *) Good web programming skills *) Familiar with or willingness to learn PHP [This topic can be selected as master’s project]   This project aims at extending an already existing adaptive mechanism to be applied in different course development modes, leading to more flexibility in developing adaptive courses. The adaptive mechanism aims at enabling learning systems to automatically generate courses that fit to students’ learning styles and has been used at different educational institutions. Currently, this adaptive mechanism is developed for the learning management system Moodle and to support courses that include single learning objects. Recently, different modes of course development have been integrated in Moodle such as using IMS learning design or ibooks. The aim of this project is to extend the existing mechanism so that it can also be used for other development modes.   The first part of this project is to conduct a literature review on adaptivity in learning management systems and to investigate the different development modes available in Moodle as well as their usage in online courses. The second part of this project is to identify the most promising development mode for courses in Moodle. The third part of this project is to extend the existing adaptive algorithm so that it works additionally for the respective development mode. This includes the re-design of the adaptive mechanism so that it automatically detects the respective development mode and adapts the course respectively. The extended adaptive mechanism will then be tested and evaluated through proof of concept evaluation.   This project might require communication/arrangements with other Master’s students who will work on a similar topic.   Requirements: *) Interest in the topic *) Good web programming skills *) Familiar with or willingness to learn PHP