Arizona State Tries Adaptive Software for Basic Math Courses

  • By Dian Schaffhauser
  • 01/06/11

Arizona State University will be expanding a pilot program to train college students in basic math skills using an online program that provides adaptive forms of instruction. The Tempe-based university has been trying out adaptive software in sections of a college algebra course for the past two semesters. Now Arizona State has gone public with plans to broaden that use to developmental and college-level math courses with software from Knewton.

Participating students will begin with a preliminary assessment, which will be used to develop an "Adaptive Remediation" module that offers both virtual and in-person tutoring. Knewton's technology personalizes study material each day, based on what a student has demonstrated he or she already knows and on what types of activities appear to work most effectively in helping that student learn.

Knewton's learning platform will integrate with the university's college algebra and college mathematics courses. Both courses will be offered online and in dedicated computer labs and will be made available to about 6,800 students during the 2011-2012 academic year.

Once students demonstrate college readiness in mathematics, they'll advance into instructor-led math courses. The software will continue to assess the students as they move through the entry-level courses too.

"Historically, student performance in entry-level math has been a strong predictor of academic success," said Phil Regier, executive vice provost and dean of ASU Online. "The reality is that every student learns differently. Especially for many developmental and returning students, rigorous but personalized instruction may be the boost they need to succeed academically and move beyond what can be a major barrier to graduation."

About the Author

Dian Schaffhauser is a former senior contributing editor for 1105 Media's education publications THE Journal, Campus Technology and Spaces4Learning.

Featured

  • Stock market graphs and candlesticks breaking apart with glass-like cracks

    Chinese Startup DeepSeek Disrupts AI Market

    A new low-cost Chinese artificial intelligence model is wreaking havoc in the technology sector, with tech stocks plummeting globally as concerns grow over the potential disruption it could cause.

  • abstract geometric pattern of glowing interconnected triangles, hexagons, and circles in blue, gold, and white, spread across a dark navy-to-black gradient background

    OpenAI Unveils 'Operator' AI for Performing Web Tasks

    OpenAI has launched "Operator," an AI agent designed to perform web-based tasks autonomously using its own browser. Currently available as a research preview for Pro users in the United States, the tool aims to automate everyday activities such as filling out forms, ordering groceries, and even creating memes.

  • glowing shield with a lock symbol at its center, surrounded by stylized outlines of books, a graduation cap, and a laptop

    Why the Education Sector Needs to Get Better at Cyber Hygiene

    Despite the wealth of publicly available information about cyber attacks and the tactics used by malicious actors, many institutions appear unprepared to protect their students, faculty, and endowments from cyber threats.

  • handshake where one hand is human and the other is composed of glowing circuits

    Western Governors University Joins Open edX as a Mission-Aligned Organization

    Western Governors University is the first organization to join the Open edX project as a "mission-aligned organization" (MAO), a new category of institution-level partnership supporting development of the Open edX open source online learning platform.