From Learner Profile Management to Learner Model Modeling

Abstract

In the educational context, adaptive hypermedia can better guide the learner's learning by providing him with adaptive and personalized educational content, taking into account his learning profile. The idea presented in this chapter is to design and manage effective learner models for all adaptive hypermedia systems (adaptive, macro-adaptive e-learning, ITS, AHES, etc.). This chapter gives an overview of learner profiles and models by referring to the differences between models and learner profiles. The authors then address the learner model in adaptive systems by identifying different adaptive, macro-adaptive, ITS, and AHES e-learning systems. They then discuss learner modeling in terms of learner model content, specific information domains, independent information domains, and learner model components. Finally, they present the process of developing a learner model: steps and techniques, in particular the collection of data, the initialization of the learner model, and the update of the learner model.