Testing the effects of adaptive learning courseware on student performance: An experimental approach

Abstract

An increasing number of college and university courses are being offered in an online format. Even for courses offered face-to-face, instructors are increasingly turning towards the use of online platforms to help with student learning, especially for courses with high enrollment. This study tests the efficacy of adaptive learning platforms in a sample of undergraduate students at a large urban university, using an experimental design that compares the learning outcomes of students in classrooms that used an adaptive learning tool to those that did not. The results indicate that better performing students, particularly female students, benefit the most from using adaptive learning tools.