Adaptive E-learning

It has long been known that differences among individuals have an effect on learning. Dick Snow's research on aptitude-treatment interactions (ATIs) was designed to investigate and quantify these effects, and more recent research in this vein has clearly established that these effects can be quantified and predicted. Technology has now reached a point where we have the opportunity to capitalize on these effects to the benefit of learners. In this article, we review some of the demonstrated effects of ATIs, describe how ATI research naturally leads to adaptive e-learning, and describe one way in which an adaptive e-learning system might be implemented to take advantage of these effects.