Adaptive Science Courseware Wins Top Prize in NYU AI Competition

college students working on desktop computers

Foundations of Science, a set of tools that will use machine learning and artificial intelligence to provide personalized support for students in college-level science courses, has taken the top prize in New York University's inaugural Algorithm for Change competition. The courseware was created by Smart Sparrow in partnership with ACTNext (a multi-disciplinary innovation unit of nonprofit and college readiness exam provider ACT) and Arizona State University's Center for Education Through Exploration.

The competition, administered by NYU's Center for Social Entrepreneurship, was designed to identify artificial intelligence, machine learning and augmented reality solutions to "help low-income, under-represented minority and first-generation students get to and through college," according to a news announcement. Out of a group of 70 submissions, nine finalists pitched their ideas before a panel of judges at NYU. The Smart Sparrow team received a $500,000 cash prize as well as coaching and mentorship to further develop Foundations of Science. The courseware will teach introductory science through narratives and case studies, combined with machine learning and AI tools that "detect when students are struggling with foundation concepts or skills and recommend just-in-time interventions," the announcement said.

"We're honored to have won the competition. Using Smart Sparrow's learning design platform, instructors and designers have already seen great success improving student outcomes in science courses," said Jacqui Hayes, director of studio innovation at Smart Sparrow, in a statement. "We believe that we can go further still, powering additional scaffolding and adaptivity through machine learning and artificial intelligence."

"Smart courses, which adapt in response to student behavior and provide instructors with valuable, real-time insights on skill gaps and engagement drop-offs, have an incredible potential to help more student graduate faster," commented Saad M. Khan, director of AI and machine learning at ACTNext. "Foundations of Science is designed to leverage AI and machine learning to help more at-risk learners successfully complete their academic journeys."

About the Author

Rhea Kelly is editor in chief for Campus Technology, THE Journal, and Spaces4Learning. She can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • abstract human figures stand on a glowing grid floor in a vibrant digital landscape with floating holographic buildings, luminous data orbs, and a neon blue and purple gradient sky

    Metaverse Org Declares the Technology Is Accelerating in Spite of Rise of AI

    A new report from the Metaverse Standards Forum (MSF) declares the technology initiative is alive and well, despite skyrocketing attention paid to artificial intelligence.

  • digital illustration of a glowing padlock at the center, surrounded by abstract icons of books and graduation caps

    2025 Cybersecurity Predictions for K-20 Education

    What should K-12 and higher education institutions expect on the cybersecurity front in the coming year? Here's what the experts told us.

  • From Fire TV to Signage Stick: University of Utah's Digital Signage Evolution

    Jake Sorensen, who oversees sponsorship and advertising and Student Media in Auxiliary Business Development at the University of Utah, has navigated the digital signage landscape for nearly 15 years. He was managing hundreds of devices on campus that were incompatible with digital signage requirements and needed a solution that was reliable and lowered labor costs. The Amazon Signage Stick, specifically engineered for digital signage applications, gave him the stability and design functionality the University of Utah needed, along with the assurance of long-term support.

  • robot waving

    Copilot Updates Aim to Make AI More Personal

    Microsoft has unveiled a range of updates to its Copilot platform, marking a new phase in its effort to deliver what it calls a "true AI companion" that adapts to individual users' needs, preferences and routines.