Recommendation Systems on E-Learning and Social Learning: A Systematic Review

Abstract

E-learning is renowned as one of the highly effective modalities of learning. Social learning, in turn, is considered to be of major importance as it promotes collaboration between learners. For properly managing learning resources, recommender systems have been implemented in e-learning to enhance learners' experience. Whilst recommender systems are of widespread concern in online learning, it is still unclear to educators how recommender systems can improve the learning process and have a positive impact on learning. This paper seeks to provide an overview of the recommender systems proposed in e-learning between 2007 and the first part of 2021. Out of 100 initially identified publications for the period between 2007 and the first part of 2021, 51 articles were included for final synthesis, according to specific criteria. The descriptive results show that most of the disciplines involved in educational recommender systems papers have approached e-learning in a general way without putting as much emphasis on social learning, and that recommender systems based on explicit feedbacks and ratings were the most frequently used in empirical studies. The synthesis of results presents several recommender systems types in e-learning: (1) Content-based recommender systems, (2) Collaborative-filtering recommender systems, (3) Hybrid recommender systems and (4) Recommender systems based on supervised and unsupervised algorithms. The conclusions reflect on the almost lack of critical reflection on the importance of addressing recommender systems in social learning and social educational networks in particular, especially as social learning has particular requirements, the weak databases size used in some research work, the importance of acknowledging the strengths and weaknesses of each type of recommender system in an educational context and the need for further exploration of implicit feedbacks more than explicit learners’ feedbacks for more accurate recommendations.

State-of-the-Art Survey on Deep Learning-Based Recommender Systems for E-Learning

“…E-learning is a way of learning, in which a learner can study online from anywhere, which can be self-paced with available learning resources. E-learning is one of the fastest learning methods in recent years due to the rapid growth in technology development [9]. Learners can now search for desired educational information, products, and services via computers and mobile devices [10].…”

“…Several algorithms fall under collaborative filtering, such as user-based, item-based, stereotype/demographic, etc. Taking a user-based collaborative filtering algorithm, according to [9], the rating of new i by the u denoted by r u, i can be obtained either by taking the average of all ratings of i given by some users in U as in Equation (1) or by finding the similarity between all users who rated i and the user u, then calculate the sum of the products of their similarities and the ratings they gave to i, and finally, by multiplying the normalizing factor as in Equation ( 2), where ℵ is the normalizing factor which most of the time is considered to be the inverse of ∑ v∈U |sim(u, v)|, or by jointly using Equations (3) and (4).…”

The Impact of Hybrid Quantum Learning Methods on Arabic Language Acquisition Among Students of Islamic Boarding School in Indonesia

“…This approach aligns with liberation learning principles, prioritizing student activity and self-exploration. The implementation of Hybrid Learning, combining face-to-face and online teaching methodologies, offers flexibility and engagement (Abbas et al, 2023;Al-Enzi et al, 2023;Alhusban, 2022;Forbes et al, 2023;Looi, 2022;Nortvig et al, 2018;Schneikart & Mayrhofer, 2022;Souabi et al, 2021;Tan et al, 2023), especially in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. Hybrid Learning encourages interactive learning experiences, adaptable to various circumstances, thereby stimulating critical thinking skills.…”

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“…It is stressed that knowledge tends to be constructed when learners engage in a successful interaction on online learning platforms (Souabi et al, 2021). This type of interaction is called the 'social learning approach.'…”