An operational approach for analyzing ICT-based constructivist and adaptive learning systems
Constructivism is a learning theory that states that people learn best when they actively construct their own knowledge. Adaptability is the ability to adapt learning ex- periences to different kinds of learners. A significant number of ICT-based constructivist learning systems and ICT-based adaptive learning systems have been proposed in recent years. A critical problem related to the design and use of these kinds of systems has been the lack of a practical means for evaluat- ing the conformity of existing systems with constructivist prin- ciples and with adaptability principles. Our research aims to design truly constructivist and adap- tive learning environments. For that purpose, we have pro- posed a set of operational criteria for certain aspects of con- structivism and a set of criteria for adaptability from a con- structivist point of view, and we have used them as a useful framework both for designing learning systems and for ana- lyzing learning systems. In this paper, we present a new approach using operational criteria for analyzing existing learning systems with respect to support for constructivism and support for adaptability. We also outline several promising directions for future research on how to make existing learning systems more constructivist and adaptive.