McGraw-Hill Higher Education Delivers Digital Solution With ALEKS Math Placement
University of Illinois Increases Student Pass and Retention Rates By Accurately Placing Students With System Utilizing Artificial Intelligence
PRNewswire
NEW YORK
Jul 14, 2008
With algebra course failure rates at nearly 50 percent in many colleges and universities nationwide due to inaccurate student placement, higher education institutions are in urgent need of a reliable method for evaluating and placing students into introductory math classes. Over the last two years, the University of Illinois has been using ALEKS, a Web-based software system that employs artificial intelligence, to address the issue of accurate student placement, thereby significantly increasing student pass rates.
Now, the University has entered into a contract for the use of ALEKS, developed by ALEKS Corporation, a leader in the creation of Web-based artificially intelligent educational software. ALEKS digital solutions are made available to colleges and universities nationwide by McGraw-Hill Higher Education, a leading provider of electronic and print learning materials.
"We are sharply focused on integrating technology into the classroom to enhance learning and drive student achievement," said Ed Stanford, president of McGraw-Hill Higher Education. "A prime example of that successful integration is the ALEKS placement solution offered through McGraw-Hill and available to colleges and universities across the U.S. This digital tool is ideal for measuring a student's mathematical skills with precision."
Previously, the University of Illinois had experienced lower pass rates among students taking its introductory math courses. The lower pass rates resulted in students who were unable to continue their education because they lacked math course requirements. To remedy the situation, administrators and faculty at the institution -- led by Alison Ahlgren, coordinator for math placement -- opted to try ALEKS based on its unique approach, which instead of multiple choice, uses adaptive questioning to determine exactly what a student knows, doesn't know, and is ready to learn next in a course.
"Before ALEKS, the SAT and ACT exams along with high school transcripts, were the only measurement tools used to gauge students' math capabilities. The use of these tools alone often prevented us from accurately determining the proper math course placement for students," said Ahlgren. "With ALEKS, we've been able to fundamentally shift our approach to math assessment, resulting in a more successful math placement and greater student retention rates."
At the heart of ALEKS is an artificial intelligence engine that assesses each student individually and continuously. In approximately 45 minutes, ALEKS assesses the student's current mathematical knowledge by choosing each question on the basis of the student's answers to all the previous questions. Each set of assessment questions is unique and avoids multiple choice questions. When the student has completed the assessment, ALEKS produces a precise report of the student's mathematical knowledge.
ALEKS is a ground-breaking technology developed from research at New York University and the University of California, Irvine, by a team of software engineers, mathematicians, and cognitive scientists with the support of a multi-million-dollar grant from the National Science Foundation. "ALEKS is a powerful tool that zeros in on the strengths and weaknesses of a student's mathematical knowledge, reports its findings to the student, instructor, and test administrator, and provides a very accurate assessment of the math course that is most appropriate for the student," said Wil Lampros, president of ALEKS. "The University of Illinois is a perfect example of how ALEKS can be used to solve placement problems, improve pass rates and retain students."
McGraw-Hill Higher Education offers an array of digital products and learning tools designed to provide new paths to educational success for students and instructors. Developed by leading experts in content development and instructional technology, McGraw-Hill's digital products and services include online courses, ebooks, homework management programs, tutoring, assessment solutions and additional resources for students such as iPod content and online learning resources.
About McGraw-Hill Higher Education
McGraw-Hill Higher Education is a premier provider of teaching and learning solutions for the post-secondary and higher education markets worldwide. It is a unit of McGraw-Hill Education, a leading global provider of instructional, assessment and reference solutions that empower professionals and students of all ages. McGraw-Hill Education has offices in 33 countries and publishes in more than 40 languages. Additional information is available at http://www.mheducation.com/.
About ALEKS Corporation
ALEKS Corporation is a leader in the creation of Web-based artificially intelligent educational software. ALEKS assessment and learning technologies were originally developed by a team of cognitive scientists and software engineers at the University of California, Irvine, with major funding from the National Science Foundation. ALEKS is founded on groundbreaking research into cognitive psychology and applied mathematics. Through adaptive questioning, ALEKS accurately assesses a student's knowledge state, and then delivers targeted instruction on the topics a student is most ready to learn.
ALEKS is currently being used by hundreds of thousands of students in more than 20 academic subjects ranging from financial accounting to precalculus at more than 1,000 institutions throughout the world. For additional information, visit http://www.aleks.com/.
Contact: Tom Stanton Emily Wennerberg McGraw-Hill Education ALEKS Corporation (212) 904-3214 (714) 245-7191 x153 tom_stanton@mcgraw-hill.com emilyw@aleks.com
SOURCE: McGraw-Hill Higher Education
CONTACT: Tom Stanton
McGraw-Hill Education
+1-212-904-3214
tom_stanton@mcgraw-hill.com
or
Emily Wennerberg
ALEKS Corporation
+1-714-245-7191 x153
emilyw@aleks.com