Adaptive Technology Software 

                 Adaptive technology covers a wide range of topics and borrows ideas from artificial intelligence, gaming, and assistive technologies.  In order for a program to be adaptive, it must be able to change based on the students responses to questions.  As they answer questions, the software must change the course direction or content, to fit the students’ needs, and help them develop mastery of the subject.  Let’s take a closer look at some of the programs that are adaptive, and enhance student learning.  Initially, I was interested in researching music based adaptive technologies, but unfortunately, the available software does not meet the requirements of the definition.  However, there are similarities and benefits of using cloud based technology in the music classroom, even if it is not adaptive.

McGraw Hill and ALEKS

                  McGraw Hill has been supplying schools with textbooks for years, and is emerging as a leader in adaptive learning technology for the classroom.  They have developed a program called ALEKS, Assessment and LEarning Knowledge Spaces, which uses Artificial Intelligence to map the details of student knowledge.  By using pre-assessments ALEKS is able to determine when a student is ready to learn a new topic.  It uses a small number of questions to determine a student’s prior knowledge, and will choose the next question based on their previous responses.  Each assessment is individually tailored to each student, based on their answers.  Once the assessment is complete, the student’s knowledge will be organized by topics and represented in a pie chart.  After the assessment, the student will enter a learning mode where they are offered a choice of topics to explore, based on the initial assessment. If a student is struggling with a topic, ALEKS will offer a complete explanation, and the student can only advance to another topic after they are able to consistently answer questions.  As the student uses the software, ALEKS updates its’ student knowledge map to reflect what they have learned. It will also periodically reassess the student to ensure the knowledge is retained in their long-term memory.  ALEKS is based on theoretical work known as “Knowledge Space Theory” which uses “mathematical formulas to operationalize knowledge structures in a particular domain” (Stahl & Hockemeyer, 2018). It suggests that knowledge can be grouped into domains, and that knowledge in one domain may be a prerequisite to knowledge in another domain.  The knowledge gained is related, and a specific concept must be mastered before you can move to a more complex problem (Stahl & Hockemeyer, 2018). ALEKS uses a mathematical language that extracts specific elements of knowledge, and uses them to form distinct knowledge states within the learner.  This is a framework used to create “Knowledge Spaces” by identifying basic concepts that are needed to understand a skill (McGraw Hill, 2018). 

                  After learning the capabilities of McGraw Hill’s ALEKS I was excited about the potential of the program for the classroom.  However, after looking at the products currently offered, I was disappointed to discover that nearly all of the courses offered at the K-12 level were Math.  There is an AP Chemistry class listed, as well as some variations on Math classes, such as business math and accounting.  McGraw Hill does offer additional courses in science and business, but they are geared towards Higher Education classes.  One benefit is that all of the classes are offered in English and Spanish.  Hopefully, in the future they will offer additional subjects as the technology and courses are developed.

McGraw Hill- What is Adaptive Learning Anyway?

Overview of ALEKS

Dreambox

                  Another popular site using Adaptive Technology in Education is Dreambox Learning.  Dreambox uses Intelligent Adaptive Learning which integrates instruction and assessment before, during, and after each lesson.  It uses more than 48,000 data points every hour to track student interaction, and evaluate the strategies they are using to solve problems (Dreambox Learning, 2018).  Using the data points the level of the lesson is adjusted along with scaffolding techniques, and pacing, to help enhance the learners understanding of the content.  Dreambox incorporates Common Core and state standards using gaming to help keep student motivation and engagement at a high level.  The courses are offered in Spanish and English to help minimize a language barrier in student learning, and provides teachers and administrators with a dashboard of analytics on students’ growth and mastery of content.  It generates automatic progress reports that monitor proficiency towards long term education goals, and uses predictive technology to determine if the students are on track to reach those goals.  The dashboard allows teachers to assign standards or concepts to individual students, groups of students, or the entire class.  One of the biggest benefits of the dashboard is the teacher’s ability to monitor student progress in real time.  It allows to teachers to see what students are working on, what they have completed, and strategies they are using in their learning (Dreambox Learning, 2018).

                  Just like the McGraw- Hill courses, Dreambox is entirely math based.  However, Dreambox focuses on developing a curriculum for kindergarten through eighth grade and uses different environments for different age groups.  They focus more on a blended learning model and being a tool the teacher can use to differentiate the instruction, or work being done for each student.  One nice feature about Dreambox is they offer an app that can be used on an ipad to access their content to allow students to use the program from multiple locations, and increase their ability to use the course outside of the classroom.  Since all of their content is math based and their videos feature individuals with a doctorate in mathematics, I don’t think they will be offering any content that can be used for other subjects anytime soon. 

Dreambox Learning- Our adaptive learning platform closes math gaps to deliver results

Smartmusic

                  When I initially began looking into Adaptive Technology, I thought Smartmusic fell into this category.  As I learned more, I began to realize it did not meet the requirements since it does not adapt its’ content based on student response.  However, most of the adaptive software is geared towards math content. Even sites such as Khan Academy that offer additional courses in history, or arts and humanities, do not make those courses adaptive.  They are simply lessons posted on a website that students complete.  If you teach something other than math it seems we have limited adaptive technology options, but programs like smart music offers several of the same benefits that can be found in adaptive technology.  Smartmusic is software designed by the Make Music Corporation that utilizes Computer Assisted Musical Instruction that was developed by Dannenberg from Carnegie-Mellon University.  Computer Assisted Musical Instruction, CAMI, is a computer interface that is capable of judging student performance of pitch and rhythmic patterns for accuracy. This technology is integrated with an Interactive Music Practice System, IMPS, to give students immediate feedback on pitch and rhythm accuracy during their practice sessions (Nichols, 2014).

                  Even though Smartmusic technology does not adapt to the students based on performance, it does enable the teacher to guide their practice session, and make it easier to give feedback tailored to the individual students’ needs.  The newer version of the software will also interpret the students’ ability to perform dynamics, attacks and releases of notes, and other stylistic performing traits such as legato.  The program is cloud based and can be used on a variety of devices such as chromebooks, iPads, and computers.  Teachers are able to create rubrics for grading, and assign content to the students.   The program provides data on students’ scores, which allows the teacher to address areas of need.  Previous versions of the software required student to purchase an additional microphone and student account access, but now the software can be used with built in microphones and educators are able to purchase bulk packages that give the students access to the content.

                  Teachers can assign work from method books and concert literature to help develop student performance.  This can be especially helpful in large ensembles, where teachers do not always have the time to give every individual the feedback they need on a regular basis.  With Smartmusic the teacher will be able to see the students practice session and offer suggestions to improve performance to help enhance the feedback the student receives from the software.  This can increase student motivation and help improve students practice habits.  Studies have demonstrated that students who use Smartmusic in their practice sessions achieve great results with the same amount of time.  This increased their confidence and led to better performances of the literature (Nichols, 2014).  Even though Smartmusic is not adaptive technology if offers many of the same benefits such as, data reporting for the teacher, and immediate feedback for the learner.  The main difference is the content must be monitored by the teacher, and adjusted based on mastery of the content.  This may be a better option as the software is not dependent upon the quality of an algorithm to determine if the students understand the content.  The teacher can use their knowledge of students and adapt the course based on their specific interests, and determine how fluid a student is with the content.  In the arts, there is a lot of room for individual judgement of how well a student performs.  As technology is developed, I am hopeful that more adaptive technology is available for content that is capable of multiple right answers or based on an interpretation of the answer presented by the student. 

Learn more about Smartmusic