Concept-based and fuzzy adaptive e-learning: pilot study

The purpose of this study is to design an efficient adaptive e-learning system that uses a fuzzy logic technique to produce two adaptive mechanisms. A coloured concept map to show the learner's knowledge level for each concept in the topic and a ranked concept list of learning materials to address weaknesses in the learner’s understanding. This system will obtain information on a learner's understanding of concepts by an initial pre-test before the system is used for learning and a post-test after using the learning system. The aim of this research is to show that such a suggested novel adapted elearning system will improve a learner's knowledge, understanding, motivation and engagement. In addition, this research aims to increase participants' overall learning level and effectiveness by providing a coloured concept map of understanding followed by a ranked concepts list of learning materials. To evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed system a pilot study has been conducted with the Multimedia Design and Applications course at the University of Sussex in Brighton, UK. According to the study results, the proposed system provided positive results for the students who used both adaptive group and non-adaptive control group and validated the system and methodology used.