Adaptive Learning and UPSC

Students today face an unprecedented challenge with regards to learning. There is a huge amount of information being created every moment. The students today are expected to know more and more about more and more and more subjects. That’s too many “mores”!

Let’s take the case of UPSC Civil Services. A candidate is expected to have an expertise in English, at least one Indian language, General Studies, and problem solving skills. The last two include History, Geography, Sports, Economics, Polity, Law, Mathematics, Reasoning……………… and so much more. There are some major questions that a student faces:

1.       How to plan their studies across such diverse subjects?

2.       What to study and what to leave?

Competitive exams like UPSC civil services are open to aspirants from all domains be it social sciences, technical, or professional. Unfortunately, the current modes of learning are uniform and static.

Does a History student need the same books to study for UPSC as a Math student?

Does a fast learner need the same course as a consistent learner?

The answer is no and to some extent students try and make arrangements for it on an ad hoc basis. What is needed is a system that:

1.       Adapts to the students background preparation

2.       Adapts to his learning speed

3.       Adapts to his learning style and time remaining for the exam

In short students today need an: ADAPTIVE LEARNING SYSTEM

There has been a tremendous amount of research in adaptive assessments and adaptive learning systems. Researchers have explored the learning needs, and learning behaviors of students to come up with intelligent systems that can adapt to students and help them Maximize their potential. Such systems are not just an electronic replication of books on the computer. They incorporate analytical intelligence engines that lay down the development path ahead.

Very soon adaptive learning systems would be available in India and that too for UPSC Civil Services exam preparation.

If you would like to know more about adaptive learning system for UPSC Civil Services you can email me at upscguide2011@gmail.com