The increasingly ubiquitous availability of digital and networked tools has the potential to fundamentally transform the teaching and learning process. Among these tools, adaptive learning ought to be the more prominent. Adaptive learning, also known as adaptive teaching, is an educational method which uses computer algorithms to orchestrate the interaction with the learner and deliver customized resources and learning activities to address the unique needs of each learner. Although there is little empirical research that is published, adaptive learning is undoubtedly a profound trend.

The construction of adaptive learning system is an effective scheme to resolve the problem between dynamic students' needs of resources and static teaching resources. It is also an effective method to resolve the contradiction between overall infinite resources and individual needs of finite resources（Jiang qiang，2012）. It realizes two functions in the distance learning environment, which one is that learners can actively adapt distance learning, organize learning resources, make and carry out learning plan, select study strategy and can be self-assessment. Another is that system can provide learners with adaptive learning service support and in this learning circumstance, adaptive learning system can recommend personal learning path and learning resources, according to students' characteristics and learning behaviors, such as learning styles, media types, learning interests, cognitive level, etc. It can effectively enhance students' individual education and improve the full development of a growing personality.

Yu shengquan, a professor at Beijing normal university, proposed the adaptive learning model, which includes three key links: learning diagnosis, dynamic organization of learning content and learning strategy. In adaptive learning, learning diagnosis is a crucial link, because it is an important basis for adaptive learning system to understand students' learning ability and cognitive ability. When you can measure what you're talking about and put it in Numbers, you really know something about it; And when you don't measure it, when you can't put Numbers on it, your understanding is superficial and unsatisfactory（Lord Kelvin）. In learning diagnosis, the adaptive learning system reference model is undoubtedly an important part, including user model, platform model and so on. Taking IMS Learner Information Package (IMS LIP) for an example, it proposes a learner information system model, which records the individual characteristics of users and reflects their individual differences(the table below).

Just like freedom of movement in hypermedia can cause inexperienced learners to get lost in hyperspace, there are many problems in adaptive learning at present. Adaptive learning system is an ascendant research direction. It is possible that part of achievements has been widely used. However, the construction of system model is still very weak and this system also lacks the necessary empirical research. In addition, the adaptive system has the following shortcomings：1. Lack of immersive function and inharmonious human-computer interaction；2. Belittling the learning process design, the learning plan is single；3. The adaptability of personalized learning scheme is poor；and4. Poor cooperative learning with other learners（Hong Liu，Wenhao Li，Jianguo Li，2008）.

How to optimize adaptive learning systems, like minimizing costs, providing convenience and flexibility, improving student outcomes, and offering research-drive instructional and pedagogical approaches, still has a long way to go.