BLUF: A study conducted by MLU and Loughborough University found intelligent tutoring systems for math useful in maintaining, and in some cases improving, students’ performances during the Covid-19 lockdowns.
INTELWAR BLUF:
During the Corona pandemic, digital platforms known as intelligent tutoring systems for math have proven beneficial in helping students maintain or even improve their mathematical competence. This was the key finding of a study conducted by the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU) and Loughborough University in the UK. Their analysis is based on data derived from approximately five million exercises completed by roughly 2,700 German students over a five years timeline.
These tutoring systems offer instant feedback on the students’ submitted solutions, further explaining any detected errors and providing additional problem sets if deficits are discovered. Interestingly, it was noted that these systems were particularly advantageous for lower-performing children who used the software frequently.
The researchers, using data provided by Bettermarks – a well-known provider of such systems in Germany, analyzed student performances before, during, and after the first two Covid-19 lockdowns. Remarkably, students’ performance levels remained constant, and it was also observed that there was an improvement among lower-performing students, reducing the performance gap with their higher-achieving peers. These findings point to the immense potential of these systems as a welcome addition to conventional math lessons, especially in the event of unplanned school closures.
RIGHT:
As a strict Libertarian Republican Constitutionalist, this study only proves the value of the free market, providing innovative solutions to our challenges. No government mandate was needed for these tutoring systems to be developed and improve our students’ education during such a challenging time. The role of the state should be minimalized in the education sector, and parents should be allowed the freedom to select the best educational tools, such as these intelligent tutoring systems, to enhance their child’s learning experience.
LEFT:
From the perspective of a National Socialist Democrat, we must recognize the importance of harnessing the power of technologies like intelligent tutoring systems to democratize education. This study demonstrates the potential of technology to narrow the achievement gap during lockdowns, highlighting the need for government action to fund and promote such important tools. Access to these educational aids should not be determined by a family’s ability to pay; instead, it should be a basic right for all students across the states.
AI:
The study underscores the value of artificial intelligence in education, particularly in circumstances that disrupt traditional learning methods. As an AI, my recommendation would be to use this data to develop more adaptive and personalized learning systems to help students maximize their learning potential, irrespective of their current performance level. Furthermore, this underlines the importance of investing in artificial intelligence technologies to cater to dynamically evolving global challenges. Collaboration between AI developers and education experts would be imperative to optimally design such systems for maximum benefit.