MATHEMA: A Learner-controlled Adaptive ...

This paper describes the innovative, adaptive and intelligent techniques, supported by the Web-based adaptive educational hypermedia system called MATHEMA. The supported techniques by the AEHS MATHEMA are the following: curriculum sequencing, adaptive presentation, adaptive and meta-adaptive navigation support, interactive problem solving support, and adaptive group formation. These techniques answer to some open research issues such as, which is the appropriate learning style model for ad hoc domain application? How to combine individual contexts with collaborative contexts? What are effective and acceptable adaptations at the interaction, tool or content level we can implement in an adaptive educational hypermedia system used for both individual and collaborative learning? How do we incorporate problem-solving activity into adaptive educational hypermedia system? The educational purpose of the AEHS MATHEMA is to support senior high school students or novices of higher education, through an interactive and constructivist educational material, in learning Physics individually and/or collaboratively. In general, the AEHS MATHEMA is an effective learner-controlled system that dynamically generates courses according to learners’ learning goal, knowledge level on each learning goal and main concept, learning style, Web experience, preference for visual and/or verbal feedback, and preference for the kind of navigation. Summative evaluation of the AEHS MATHEMA indicated that almost all its functions are useful, usable, and user-friendly.