Bridging the Gap with MAID: A Method for Adaptive Instructional Design

Abstract

This chapter presents MAID, a complete design method for adaptive courseware tailored for non-technical people. Adaptive hypermedia systems represent a great potential for e-learning. Nevertheless, instructors and designers find it difficult to develop adaptive applications in real educational environments, mainly because no structured design method is available. The main principle upon which the method relies is that the basis for the exploitation of adaptive features in education is the definition and implementation of an instructional strategy. The MAID approach provides guidelines and tools that foster and enhance the communication between the technical staff in charge of managing the hypermedia system and the instructor by adopting her/his instructional strategy as the pivotal point for the communication.