Session 15: The MasteryPath – an adaptive learning approach that promotes online learning

Abstract

Session overview:

Many higher education institutions are now tapping into the growing number of educational technologies accessible for teaching and learning (T&L) purposes. Indeed, the opportunity and ability to embed digital tools into the T&L process have transformed higher education. The use of such practices has been amplified further by COVID-19, as well as pedagogical research and institutions (i.e., Advance HE) advocating for a hybrid and/or blended approach to learning. One such adaptive learning tool available to teachers is the MasteryPath (MP), a tool that breaks down subject matter into small units of online learning that students can undertake at their own pace. Here, only once a learner has a thorough comprehension of a specific topic can they move onto the next. As a team, we initially constructed two automated MPs, which had the primary objective of encouraging students to explore certain areas of the LJMU website (referencing and student systems). Over the past 4 years this adaptive learning approach has been utilised across the business school, with, more recently, this approach being piloted with student futures remodelling the ‘Future Focus’ task. Over this time, qualitative and quantitative data has been collected from both students and staff across three programmes with over 1000 students completing a MP as both a summative and a formative assessment. In this presentation, we will discuss the positive impact of these MPs on student learning through the data collected within the context of the constant evolution of this tool.

Key learning points from this session:

To see the impact of adaptive learning tool on student learning. Evidence will be drawn from a range of different assessments, subsequent assessments, student feedback, and colleague feedback within the Business School.

The MasteryPath – an adaptive learning approach that promotes online learning PowerPoint. Only LJMU staff and students have access to this resource.