Adaptive Learning and STEM for HBCUs: Benefits of Using Technology to Optimize Learning in Higher Education

Dr. Alissa E. Harrison, Vice President for Information Technology, Hampton University

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education is a vital area of learning that prepares students with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in today’s rapidly evolving world. As a form of education, adaptive learning uses technology to fine-tune the pace and challenges of the variety of learning materials to align with the needs and abilities of individual learners. With African Americans making up 11% of the U.S. workforce but 9% of all STEM workers and Hispanics comprising 16% of the workforce but only 7% of the overall STEM workers, a Funk & Parker 2018 study revealed minorities continue to be underrepresentedin the STEM workforce. To close gaps in the number of minorities matriculating with STEM degrees, leaders must implement innovative solutions that address digital gaps and eradicate the racial digital divide to improve to increase the pipeline. As higher education continues to seek ways to enhance student’s educational experience in various ways, using adaptive learning might be a tool to support learning for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). 

This technology-enabled approach to teaching and learning uses data and algorithms to personalize and optimize each student’s learning experience. The adaptive learning software platform supports continuously assessing a student’s progress, knowledge level, and learning style by adapting the curriculum, resources, and feedback. Combining STEM education and adaptive learning can transform how we teach and learn the next generation of students. Adaptive learning can help students overcome individual learning barriers by providing personalized learning experiences that maximize their potential. For example, suppose a student is struggling with a particular STEM concept, such as creating software applications using coding languages for programming or exploring complex molecular structures, nomenclatures, or reactions involved in organic chemistry. For this situation, an adaptive learning system might support adjustments in the content and pace of the learning materials to help them better understand the concept. Furthermore, the use of adaptive learning can increase student engagement and motivation. By providing personalized learning experiences tailored to their needs, students are more likely to stay engaged and motivated throughout the learning process. Adapting learning to the student can improve outcomes in STEM subjects.

“With many HBCU students coming from historically marginalized and underrepresented communities, leveling the playing field by providing personalized learning experiences tailored to the individual student needs and learning styles offers an opportunity to enhance the student learning experience and increase the of minorities in STEM-related workforce areas.”

According to a recent Delphi 2020 study, adaptive learning use is increasing as an innovative data-driven approach to teaching; however, using this methodology needs to be higher. As a technology-enabled approach, teaching and learning using data and algorithms are options to personalize and optimize the student’s learning experience. Using the appropriate software platforms and consistently evaluating a student’s progress, knowledge level, and learning style supports this technique. Another consideration is providing the needed curriculum, resources, and feedback to help this learning mode.

Teaching professionals can use HBCU adaptive learning to enhance students’ educational experiences in various ways. Researchers successfully implemented a model at the undergraduate level in both formal and informal STEM learning settings that supported the engagement of HBCU students for higher education professionals. By leveraging outcomes of recent studies, STEM professionals can use adaptive learning to promote learning at HBCUs to:

Personalized learning: Adaptive learning can help HBCU students learn more effectively by providing a personalized learning experience tailored to their needs, strengths, and weaknesses.

Improve retention rates: By identifying areas of difficulty and providing targeted support, adaptive learning can help HBCU students stay engaged and motivated, improving retention rates.

Facilitate self-paced learning: Adaptive learning can allow HBCU students to work at their own pace and access learning materials when convenient, which can be particularly beneficial for students with work or family responsibilities.

Enhance access to resources: Adaptive learning can provide HBCU students access to various educational resources and materials, including videos, simulations, and interactive exercises, which can help them deepen their understanding of complex STEM concepts.

Additionally, aligning the adaptive learning methodology and tools can enhance the educational experience of HBCU STEM students. Examples include:

Personalized problem sets: Adaptive learning platforms can create personalized problem sets for students tailored to their knowledge level and understanding, providing them with targeted practice in critical STEM concepts.

Interactive simulations: Adaptive learning platforms can provide HBCU students access to interactive simulations and exercises that allow them to explore complex STEM concepts, both hands-on and engagingly.

Customized learning paths: Adaptive learning platforms can create customized learning paths for HBCU students based on their interests and career goals, helping them stay motivated and engaged in their studies.

Intelligent tutoring systems: Adaptive learning platforms can provide HBCU students with personalized tutoring and support, using intelligent algorithms to identify areas of difficulty and provide targeted feedback and resources

Integrating STEM and adaptive learning offers benefits, including improved engagement, increased retention rates, and a more personalized learning experience. Despite challenges a university might face in adopting these technologies, such as implementation costs, faculty training to support the new processes, and data privacy and security concerns, leaders can mitigate each with a well-informed risk management system. By conducting a thorough cost-benefit analysis to determine the best practices that align with new technologies, developing a comprehensive faculty training program to improve instructor skill sets, and consulting with experts to address potential disruptions or failures in newly adopted technologies, a well-defined risk management system can help universities mitigate many challenges in adopting an adaptive learning process.

Recent studies in 2019 suggest incorporating a prediction system for at-risk students and periodically validating it to ensure the relationship between adaptive and maladaptive dispositions supports adopting adaptive learning as part of academic learning. With most research on adaptive learning supporting traditional computers or devices, potential applications using smart devices that align with the development of artificial intelligence, virtual reality, cloud computing, and wearable computing is a trend that supports applying adaptive learning for STEM higher education students. A significant student outcome of implementing adaptive learning among HBCUs is enhancing their academic success and achievement, increasing job prospects, enhancing career readiness, and improving competitiveness for advanced degree opportunities. Equally important, adaptive learning supports HBCU students in overcoming some barriers to success, such as lack of access to resources, limited support to STEM networks, and insufficient preparation. Adaptive learning technologies can help HBCU students improve their academic performance, increase the probability of completing their degree program, and become more competitive in the job market and for advanced degrees.

Implementing adaptive learning technologies contributes to the larger goal of promoting equity in higher education. With many HBCU students coming from historically marginalized and underrepresented communities, leveling the playing field by providing personalized learning experiences tailored to the individual student needs and learning styles offers an opportunity to enhance the student learning experience and increase the of minorities in STEM-related workforce areas. Overall, implementing adaptive learning among HBCU students supports improving academic success and achievement, increasing their competitiveness in the job market and for advanced degrees, and contributes to a larger goal of enhancing equity in higher education.

Risk Management

Cloud Computing

Artificial Intelligence

Virtual Reality