Meticulous Learning Follow-Up Systems for Undergraduate Students Using the Online Item Response Theory

Abstract

Due to the shrinkage of high school students and growth of the number of acceptance to universities in Japan, almost all the high school students are to be enrolled to universities, which causes various educational difficulties in universities. Taking care of students who were taught insufficiently in high schools and junior high schools is one of them. The follow-up program is aimed at helping students who need basic learning and aimed at assisting teachers who have to engage in teaching a variety of students. The follow-up systems are recognized as a part of the follow-up program, and consist of the learning check testing, follow-up program testing, and collaborative work testing. They are connected to the portfolio system which manages students' scores and behaviors. We have developed the follow-up systems using online testing systems. In the systems, many persons playing roles are involved, such as teachers, students, peer supporters, and item contributors. We adopted the item response theory to evaluate students' learning skills accurately. The systems are now successfully working.