Adaptive Learning: Potential, Pitfalls & What's Needed For Success?

“Adaptive learning” is a popular edtech buzzword, used by curriculum and learning management systems alike. Enthusiasts promise this technology has the ability to make educational experiences more personal, efficient and scalable.

Yet, there’s a big problem. There’s very little clarity around what this technology does, doesn’t do and how it actually works. Part of the problem stems from a semantic black box, filled with terms like “algorithms” and “predictive analytics” that offer only a vague explanation of how adaptive learning tools work.

We’ve decided to put the power in the hands of educators, entrepreneurs and researchers, who will share their perspectives on what adaptive learning means to them, what’s working, what’s not and what the future might hold for this technology. We'll do this through a series of Ignite Talks from:

• John Danner (former CEO Rocketship Education and current CEO of Zeal)

• Jennie Dougherty (Associate Director of Innovation, KIPP Bay Area)

• Angela Estrella (Teacher, Instructional Coach and Parent)

• James Harrell (Talent Development Manager, Oakland Unified School District)

• Johann Larusson (Lead, Center for Digital Data, Analytics and Adaptive Learning, Pearson)

• Elena Sanina (Senior Manager of Blended Learning, Aspire Public Schools)

• Esther Tricoche (Associate Partner, New School Venture Fund)