Abstract:

The current research investigates the problem of personalization in web-based learning environments. It is in fact, postulated that one of the main problems with e-learning environments is their lack of personalization. The paper describes a personalization framework that has been designed and demonstrates a functionality that can be plugged in Moodle e-learning platform to provide for a pedagogical framework to achieve personalization of learning. The functionality provides the teacher/mentor with the possibility to customize the way he or she wants the system to offer personalization to the learner. Once the settings are done, the system adapts the instruction given with respect to the learner profile that is stored. It uses an adaptive algorithm to select the most appropriate learning object for a given lesson. Personalization of the system allows adaptation based on performance, preferred learning and cognitive styles as well as cognitive controls. The student on the other has the possibility to rate and comment on the lesson presented and their learning paths are stored in the system. This provides the teacher/instructor with a method to evaluate the outcome of providing personalization to the learners.