This chapter has two aims. First, to provide an overview of learning styles research and secondly, to provide an overview of research in adaptive hypermedia learning environment systems, those where different learning styles are considered and used to create a personalized learning environment. For most distance education institutions individualization of the learning environment for each student is not an option because economies of scale are the determining factor of cost reduction. However, the latest advances in database management, artificial intelligent systems and intelligent agents provide a technological infrastructure for individualizing the learning path for every learner at a lower cost. This chapter focuses on learning styles and how we can integrate and use them as a source of adaptation in an adaptive hypermedia learning environment systems.
Personalising the Learning Environment