Adaptive Practicing Design to Facilitate Self-Regulated Learning

Authors

  • Hongxin Yan University of Eastern Finland
  • Fuhua Lin Athabasca University
  • Kinshuk University of North Texas

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21432/cjlt28768

Keywords:

adaptive practicing, confidence-based assessment, knowledge tracing, question sequencing, self-regulated learning, wheel-spinning

Abstract

Online higher education provides exceptional flexibility in learning but demands high self-regulated learning skills. The deficiency of self-regulated learning skills in many students highlights the need for support. This study introduces a confidence-based adaptive practicing system as an intelligent assessment and tutoring solution to enhance self-regulated learning in STEM disciplines. Unlike conventional intelligent tutoring systems that depend entirely on machine control, confidence-based adaptive practicing integrates learner confidence and control options into the AI-based adaptive mechanism to improve learning autonomy and model efficiency, establishing an AI-learner shared control approach. Based on Vygotsky’s zone of proximal development (ZPD) concept, an innovative knowledge-tracing framework and model called ZPD-KT was designed and implemented in the confidence-based adaptive practicing system. To evaluate the effectiveness of the ZPD-KT model, a simulation of confidence-based adaptive practicing was conducted. Findings showed that ZPD-KT significantly improves the accuracy of knowledge tracing compared to the traditional Bayesian knowledge-tracing model. Also, interviews with experts in the field underlined the potential of the confidence-based adaptive practicing system in facilitating self-regulated learning and the interpretability of the ZPD-KT model. This study also sheds light on a new way of keeping humans apprised of adaptive learning implementation.

Author Biographies

Hongxin Yan, University of Eastern Finland

Hongxin Yan is a Learning Designer at Athabasca University in Alberta, Canada and a Doctoral Student at the University of Eastern Finland (UEF). His research interests include adaptive and personalized learning, artificial intelligence (AI) in education, learning analytics, and related fields. Email: hongya@student.uef.fi ORCID0000-0002-3729-0844

Fuhua Lin, Athabasca University

Fuhua Lin is a Professor in the Faculty of Science and Technology at Athabasca University in Alberta, Canada. His research focuses on adaptive learning systems, artificial intelligence in education, and virtual reality applications for training. He has led multiple NSERC/CFI/Alberta Innovates-funded projects to advance personalized learning technologies. Email: oscarl@athabascau.ca

Kinshuk, University of North Texas

Kinshuk is a full Professor and the Dean of the College of Information at the University of North Texas, USA. His research interests include learning analytics, mobile learning, ubiquitous learning, personalized learning, and adaptivity. Email: kinshuk@ieee.org

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Published

2025-04-04

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Articles