ISEDJ

Abstract: The growing diversity of students entering higher education presents challenges for instructors seeking to meet varied individual learning needs. A promising approach to addressing this issue is the implementation of personalized learning paths that are tailored to students’ specific needs, learning styles, and levels of self-regulated learning. This study examined how using optional digital learning support tools (H5P technology in conjunction with Discussion forums) for building personalized learning paths affects the learning experience of postgraduate students in a Database Systems subject. Using LMS and Ed Discussion analytics from 543 postgraduate students across two cohorts studying Database systems in 2025, this study found that completing more optional H5P activities was associated with higher final grades, with a stronger H5P-grade association in Semester 2 than in Semester 1. Discussion board engagement, including active posting and passive viewing each independently predicted final grades alongside H5P engagement, with passive viewing showing a stronger standardized association with final grades than active posting. Follow-up analyses suggested these supports were additive, such that H5P engagement was unrelated to active discussion posting but positively related to passive discussion viewing, and these H5P-discussion forum associations did not vary by cohort. Overall, the findings indicate that H5P completion and discussion forum engagement are distinct, additive forms of learning engagement associated with higher academic performance, and that the strength of the H5P-performance association varies across cohorts. These findings imply that multiple optional digital tools, including scaffolded H5P activities and discussion forums can provide personalized learning pathways for students with diverse learning needs, and that the benefits of H5P engagement may depend on cohort context.

Download this article: ISEDJ - V24 N3 Page 32.pdf

Recommended Citation: Tipple, C., Linden, T., (2026). Implementing Personalized Learning Pathways as Informed by the 5E Model: Digital Tools to the Rescue!. Information Systems Education Journal 24(3) pp 32-47. https://doi.org/10.62273/WREM8772