Adaptive computer-based training in electronic engineering

The paper describes an adaptive computer-based training program to be used in engineering education. A pilot project was done with a course on electronics; a system test involving students is also discussed. Training is considered an important element in learning engineering courses. For the training to be effective, there must be active participation by the students. To achieve this, the group size should be small in order to be able to give adequate feedback to the student and to provide each student with exercises matching his/her level of mastery. However, the usually limited human resources prohibit giving training to small groups. A computer-based training (CBT) system can provide a solution for this dilemma. The term CBT is used for activities in which the computer presents a problem, registers answers, gives feedback and cues when necessary, and presents a next problem. For maximum productivity, the system must adapt training to the student´s level. The students must be challenged but not discouraged. A method is called adaptive if it is able to select a problem on the basis of the student´s performance on earlier problems. Because courses in engineering domains are usually multidimensional, i.e., they consist of several knowledge units (subjects, skills, etc.), a two-level adaptation is proposed: a course level adaptation to select a subject, and a subject level adaptation to select an item of the chosen subject