Adaptive e-learning for biotechnology : (how) does it work?

By for example the Bachelor-Master system, the composition of student groups at universities changed in recent years. The knowledge of students may be more divergent. This makes the teaching of these groups more difficult, since the updating of individual students is very time consuming for the teacher. Digital materials can then support teachers. Adaptive digital learning materials adapt the level of the offered material and exercises to suit the individual student. In this study we examined existing teaching materials for effectiveness and looked at how students use and appreciate it. Also, we introduced a pedagogical structure to develop adaptive digital learning materials in a systematic way. The developed material proves to be effective, if properly designed and tested. Students’ use of the material is indeed very diverse regarding the time they devote to the material and the way they approach the exercises. For example, some students find it more pleasant to first deepen the theory, while others want to learn from their mistakes. Students appreciate the material, but make high demands on the provided automated feedback. Adaptive digital materials can therefore be a good way to teach heterogeneous student groups, provided the material is carefully designed and tested.