StepWise™ Virtual Tutor SBIR Phase II

Querium
3 May 201804:27

TLDRStepWise Virtual Tutor, an AI-based educational tool, revolutionizes math learning for teens and adults on mobile devices and laptops. It offers immediate feedback on each step of problem-solving, preventing confusion and guiding students with hints and turn-by-turn directions. StepWise's error analysis identifies and corrects common mistakes, while its reporting feature allows teachers to track student progress and address errors effectively. The tool has shown an 8% improvement in student scores after just six weeks of use, with a 16% increase in linear equations and functions. StepWise is poised to enhance algebra learning, a critical subject for high school and future success.

Takeaways

  • 🔍 StepWise Virtual Tutor is an AI-based educational tool designed to assist in learning mathematics.
  • 📱 It is accessible on mobile devices and laptops, catering to teens and adult learners.
  • 📝 Students can submit each step of a problem for evaluation, receiving immediate feedback to facilitate learning.
  • 🤔 StepWise identifies moments of confusion and provides coaching to guide students back on track.
  • 💡 Students have the option to ask for hints or view step-by-step directions, enhancing problem-solving skills.
  • 🌟 Upon completing a problem, students receive a summary and may earn stars for accuracy and efficiency.
  • 📊 A standout feature is the error analysis, which helps identify and address common student mistakes.
  • 👩‍🏫 Feedback from teachers, like Patty Hill, has been instrumental in refining StepWise to meet educational needs.
  • 📊 Teachers receive detailed reports on student performance, enabling targeted intervention and re-teaching.
  • 🚀 The system's AI avoids searching every possible path, focusing on common mistakes and correct procedures.
  • 📈 Querium's study showed an 8% improvement in student scores after using StepWise for six weeks, with 16% higher scores in linear equations and functions.
  • 🎓 StepWise aims to support students in mastering Algebra 1, a critical subject for future academic and career success.

Q & A

  • What is the primary purpose of StepWise Virtual Tutor?

    -StepWise Virtual Tutor is designed to help teens and adult learners learn mathematics on mobile devices and laptops by providing immediate feedback on each step of problem-solving, allowing students to understand their mistakes and learn from them.

  • How does StepWise Virtual Tutor assist students when they are confused?

    -StepWise catches students at their moment of confusion, offering hints and turn-by-turn directions to guide them back on track, ensuring they don't get stuck while solving problems.

  • What is the significance of the error analysis feature in StepWise?

    -The error analysis feature is crucial as it works with master teachers to identify common student errors and respond to them effectively, regardless of when the student should have learned the concept.

  • How does StepWise benefit teachers in terms of homework management?

    -StepWise provides teachers with detailed reports that show the percentage of students making specific mistakes, allowing for targeted intervention and re-teaching, which saves time and improves the effectiveness of instruction.

  • What is the role of Patty Hill in the development of StepWise?

    -Patty Hill, an award-winning veteran teacher, advised Querium on the development of StepWise, providing insights into the challenges of traditional homework and the benefits of the StepWise system for both teachers and students.

  • How does StepWise work from a technical standpoint?

    -StepWise uses artificial intelligence to not only describe the correct path to solving a problem but also to recognize and respond to common student mistakes, avoiding the need to search down every possible path.

  • What is the significance of the study conducted by Querium and WestEd?

    -The study conducted by Querium and WestEd demonstrated that students using StepWise for six weeks scored about 8% higher on post-tests, with a 16% higher score in linear equations and functions, indicating the effectiveness of StepWise in improving mathematical understanding.

  • What is the potential for expanding StepWise beyond Algebra?

    -The system's foundational knowledge in basic algebra can be expanded to include more advanced mathematics like precalculus and calculus, and also applied to other fields such as chemistry, physics, engineering, healthcare, or trades.

  • Why is Algebra 1 considered a gatekeeper to success in high school and beyond?

    -Algebra 1 is seen as a gatekeeper because it is a foundational subject that lays the groundwork for understanding more complex mathematical concepts, which are crucial for success in higher education and many professions.

  • What was the feedback from students who participated in the Phase Two study of StepWise?

    -Students reported that they appreciated the instant feedback on each step and found the hints helpful when they were stuck, indicating a positive reception of the StepWise Virtual Tutor.

Outlines

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📚 StepWise Virtual Tutor: Revolutionizing Math Education

StepWise Virtual Tutor, an AI-based tool by Querium, is transforming how students learn mathematics. It allows students to submit each step of their problem-solving process for immediate feedback, ensuring they receive guidance at the exact moment they encounter difficulties. The system provides hints and turn-by-turn directions, helping learners stay on track. Teachers benefit from detailed reports that highlight common errors and areas needing intervention, streamlining the review process. StepWise's error analysis is a collaborative effort with master teachers to address and correct typical student mistakes, regardless of when they were initially learned. The system's approach to learning is scalable, starting with basic algebra and extending to more complex subjects or professional applications.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡StepWise Virtual Tutor

StepWise Virtual Tutor is an artificial intelligence-based educational tool designed to assist students in learning mathematics. It stands out by allowing students to submit each step of their problem-solving process for immediate evaluation and feedback. This feature is crucial as it helps identify and address students' misunderstandings or errors in real-time, preventing them from becoming entrenched in incorrect methods. The script mentions that StepWise 'catches them at their moment of confusion, and coach them back on track,' highlighting its interactive and corrective nature.

💡Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Artificial Intelligence refers to the simulation of human intelligence in machines that are programmed to think like humans and mimic their actions. In the context of the video, AI is utilized to power the StepWise Virtual Tutor, enabling it to evaluate students' steps, provide feedback, and adapt to individual learning needs. The script emphasizes AI's role in revolutionizing traditional educational methods by offering personalized and immediate assistance to learners.

💡Error Analysis

Error Analysis in the video script pertains to the system's ability to identify common mistakes made by students and to provide targeted feedback to correct these errors. The StepWise Virtual Tutor, in collaboration with master teachers, has been programmed to recognize a wide range of errors, regardless of when the underlying concept was initially learned. This feature is highlighted as one of StepWise's strengths, as it allows for the system to 'report it to the teacher, and coach the student back on track,' thus enhancing the learning process.

💡Immediate Feedback

Immediate Feedback is a key feature of the StepWise Virtual Tutor, where students receive responses to their problem-solving steps as soon as they submit them. This instantaneous interaction is designed to keep students engaged and to facilitate a more dynamic learning experience. The script illustrates this by stating that students 'solve problems by submitting each step for evaluation and receiving immediate feedback,' which helps in preventing them from getting stuck and encourages continuous learning.

💡Hints and Turn-by-Turn Directions

The script mentions that students can ask for 'hints' and even click a button to see 'turn-by-turn directions' while solving problems. This feature is integral to the StepWise Virtual Tutor's approach, as it provides scaffolded support to learners, allowing them to progress at their own pace without becoming overwhelmed. It ensures that students receive the necessary guidance to understand and overcome challenges in their mathematical problem-solving.

💡Master Teachers

Master Teachers are experienced and highly skilled educators who have been instrumental in developing the StepWise Virtual Tutor. Their expertise is embedded within the system, allowing it to recognize and respond to common student errors effectively. The script notes that the system was 'worked with master teachers to identify common errors students make and how best to respond to them,' underscoring the importance of their input in creating a tool that mirrors human instructional strategies.

💡Report Generation

Report Generation is a feature that allows teachers to access detailed insights into students' performance and common mistakes made within the StepWise platform. As mentioned in the script, teachers can see 'the certain percentage of your students made this mistake,' which facilitates targeted interventions and re-teaching. This feature is crucial for educators to understand class-wide trends and to address specific learning gaps in a timely manner.

💡Phase II SBIR

Phase II SBIR refers to the second phase of the Small Business Innovation Research program, which is a competitive grant program that encourages domestic small businesses to engage in Federal Research/Research and Development that has the potential for commercialization. In the context of the video, Querium has reached this phase, indicating that their product, the StepWise Virtual Tutor, has shown promise and is being further developed and tested for wider application.

💡Goal-Driven Expert Systems

Goal-Driven Expert Systems are a type of AI system that are designed to solve complex problems by working towards a specific goal, using a set of predefined rules and heuristics. Dr. Elaine Kant, Querium's Chief Scientist, mentions her experience in building such systems, which are now being applied to the StepWise Virtual Tutor. This approach allows the system to not only follow correct paths but also to anticipate and guide students away from common mistakes.

💡Study of Promise

The 'Study of Promise' mentioned in the script refers to a research study conducted by Querium in partnership with WestEd, an educational research organization. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the StepWise Virtual Tutor. The results, as highlighted in the script, showed an increase in student performance, particularly in linear equations and functions, demonstrating the potential impact of the tool on learning outcomes.

Highlights

StepWise Virtual Tutor allows math instructors to see students' problem-solving steps.

It helps learners of all ages learn mathematics on mobile devices and laptops.

Students receive immediate feedback by submitting each step of a problem.

StepWise catches students at their moment of confusion and coaches them back on track.

Learners can ask for hints and see turn-by-turn directions at any point.

Students are rewarded with stars for completing questions without errors or hints.

StepWise's error analysis identifies common mistakes and provides targeted feedback.

The system can recognize and report errors from various math levels.

Teachers receive reports showing the percentage of students making specific mistakes.

StepWise enables targeted intervention in teaching.

Dr. Elaine Kant explains how StepWise avoids searching every possible path.

The system includes rules for both correct paths and common student mistakes.

StepWise's knowledge base is reusable and can be expanded to other subjects.

The system starts with basic algebra and can be expanded to more advanced mathematics.

Querium's Phase Two study showed an 8% increase in student scores after 6 weeks of using StepWise.

Students scored 16% higher on linear equations and functions.

StepWise Virtual Tutor for Algebra is designed to help all students succeed.