Shi, Lei (2014) Scaffolding for social personalised adaptive e-learning. PhD thesis, University of Warwick.
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Abstract
This work aims to alleviate the weaknesses and pitfalls of the strong modern trend of e-learning by capitalising on and taking advantage of theoretical and implementation advances that have been made in the fields of adaptive hypermedia, social computing, games research and motivation theories. Whilst both demand for and supply of e-learning are growing, especially with the rise of MOOCs, the problems that it faces remain to be addressed, notably isolation, depersonalisation and lack of individual navigation. This often leads to poor learning experience. This work explores an innovative method of combining, threading and balancing the amount of adaptation, social interaction, gamification and open learner modelling for e-learning techniques and technologies.
As a starting point, a novel combination of classical adaptation based on user modelling, fine-grained social interaction features and a Facebook-like appearance is explored. This has been shown to be able to ensure a high level of effectiveness, efficiency and satisfaction amongst learners when using the e-learning system. Contextual gamification strategies rooted in Self-Determination Theory (SDT) are then proposed, which have been shown to be able to ensure learners of the system adopt desirable learning behaviours and achieve pre-specified learning goals, thus providing a high level of motivation. Finally, a multifaceted open social learner modelling is proposed. This allows visualising both learners’ performance and their contributions to a learning community, provides various modes of comparison, and is integrated and adapted to learning content. Evidence has shown that this can provide a high level of effectiveness, efficiency and satisfaction amongst learners.
Two innovative social personalised adaptive e-learning systems including Topolor and Topolor 2 are devised to enable the proposed approach to be tested in the real world. They have been used as online learning environments for undergraduate and postgraduate students in Western and Eastern Europe as well as Middle Eastern universities, including the University of Warwick, UK, Jordan University, Jordan, and Sarajevo School of Science and Technology, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Students’ feedback has shown this approach to be very promising, suggesting further implementation of the systems and follow-up research. The worldwide use of Topolor has also promoted international collaborations.
Item Type: | Thesis [via Doctoral College] (PhD) |
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Subjects: | Q Science > QA Mathematics > QA76 Electronic computers. Computer science. Computer software |
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): | Computer-assisted instruction, Adaptive computing systems, MOOCs (Web-based instruction), Online social networks |
Official Date: | September 2014 |
Dates: | Date Event September 2014 Submitted |
Institution: | University of Warwick |
Theses Department: | Department of Computer Science |
Thesis Type: | PhD |
Publication Status: | Unpublished |
Supervisor(s)/Advisor: | Cristea, Alexandra I. |
Sponsors: | University of Warwick. Chancellor's International Scholarship |
Extent: | xxiv, 290 leaves : illustrations |
URI: | https://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/67201/ |
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