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Learner Adaptivity: An Initial Conceptualisation

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Adaptivity as a Transformative Disposition

Part of the book series: Education Innovation Series ((EDIN))

Abstract

In an ever-changing world of the twenty-first century, learners need to be able to adapt. Adaptivity cuts across knowledge in various domains; it is a life skill as well as an attitude towards learning, work and life in general from childhood to adulthood. This chapter explores the various facets of adaptivity by examining it with an etymology and concept map. The importance of learner adaptivity is discussed through the various frameworks and review of literature from two main bodies of work: formal education and work, including concepts such as cognitive flexibility, adaptive expertise, career adapt-abilities framework, and the individual adaptivity theory. While there are differences in the two bodies of work, five commonalities can be drawn. Our conceptualisation follows a dispositional approach of learner adaptability which focuses on learner adaptivity as an individual construct. An attitudes, skills, and knowledge framework of learner adaptivity is developed based on the review.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore

    Elizabeth Koh, Helen Hong & Jimmy Seah

Authors
  1. Elizabeth Koh
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  2. Helen Hong
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  3. Jimmy Seah
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Correspondence to Elizabeth Koh .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. National Insitute of Education Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore

    David Hung

  2. National Institute of Education Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore

    Kenneth Y. T. Lim

  3. National Insitute of Education Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore

    Shu-Shing Lee

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Koh, E., Hong, H., Seah, J. (2014). Learner Adaptivity: An Initial Conceptualisation. In: Hung, D., Lim, K., Lee, SS. (eds) Adaptivity as a Transformative Disposition. Education Innovation Series. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-4560-17-7_2

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