Learner Modelling Through Analyzing Cognitive Skills and Learning Styles

Providing adaptivity in web-based educational systems supports learners in their learning process and makes learning easier for them. However, providing adaptivity requires knowing the needs of the learners. Therefore learner modelling, the process of building and updating a learner model, is a crucial aspect of adaptive systems and necessary for providing course content that fits to the learners’ needs. In this chapter, we discuss recent research focusing on cognitive traits and learning styles. We show approaches by which cognitive traits and learning styles can be identified. In order to get additional data for improving learner modelling, we discuss investigations about the relationship of cognitive traits and learning styles, and the aspects of adaptation resulting from this combination.