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research-article

A recommender agent based on learning styles for better virtual collaborative learning experiences

Published: 01 April 2015 Publication History

Abstract

We developed an educational collaborative filtering recommender agent.We propose a recommendation method for educational materials and tools.Our recommender agent has an integrated learning style finder.The agent produces two types of recommendations: suggestions and shortcuts.The recommender is integrated into a virtual collaborative learning environment. Almost unlimited access to educational information plethora came with a drawback: finding meaningful material is not a straightforward task anymore. Based on a survey related to how students find additional bibliographical resources for university courses, we concluded there is a strong need for recommended learning materials, for specialized online search and for personalized learning tools. As a result, we developed an educational collaborative filtering recommender agent, with an integrated learning style finder. The agent produces two types of recommendations: suggestions and shortcuts for learning materials and learning tools, helping the learner to better navigate through educational resources. Shortcuts are created taking into account only the user's profile, while suggestions are created using the choices made by the learners with similar learning styles. The learning style finder assigns to each user a profile model, taking into account an index of learning styles, as well as patterns discovered in the virtual behavior of the user. The current study presents the agent itself, as well as its integration to a virtual collaborative learning environment and its success and limitations, based on users' feedback.

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    Published In

    cover image Computers in Human Behavior
    Computers in Human Behavior  Volume 45, Issue C
    April 2015
    421 pages

    Publisher

    Elsevier Science Publishers B. V.

    Netherlands

    Publication History

    Published: 01 April 2015

    Author Tags

    1. Collaborative learning
    2. Educational recommender system
    3. Learning styles
    4. Virtual learning environments

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    • (2020)Reinforcement Learning Based on Contextual Bandits for Personalized Online Learning Recommendation SystemsWireless Personal Communications: An International Journal10.1007/s11277-020-07199-0115:4(2917-2932)Online publication date: 1-Dec-2020
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