A Blend of Adaptive and Digital Learning Towards Language Proficiency

Digital media and information have taken the world by storm highlighting the importance of a proper education in the English Language towards Information Communication Technologies (ICT). This importance is expected to grow further creating an interest in online or digital learning among students, educators and software developers. Novel software and various tools for online or digital learning are likely to appear at will. However, most of this tailor-made software is expected to be rather expensive and is likely to offer little help with customization. In a highly sophisticated ICT environment with the focus on IT education, language proficiency in English with the new entrants at the Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLUT) is always a serious concern. Comprising a student population from all subject streams at the GCE Advanced Level Examination, proficiency levels in English are always an issue. Available resources for improvement with prepared courses in English on offer, seem insufficient. To help develop and direct students towards self-learning in English, in this knowledge era, SLUT initiated digital learning comprising learning objects based on a fusion of adaptive and blended learning. These learning objects combine classroom pedagogy and the distance mode towards a fusion with technology. Here, using a desktop or a laptop computer, learners work on their own, at their own pace, repeating again and again for acquisition and mastery. A notable feature of this learning is the provision of an online instructor for interaction. Used correctly with the distance mode or developed further to suit learning on one's own, it is believed this approach with digital learning could contribute much towards enhancing language skills of the less proficient.