I have not used Academic Systems nor has my school, but I have attended
serveral demos and a workshop for users. I've also beta tested their
Personal Tutor product, which is simply a modified front end with the same
lessons.
The package is impressive, but I don't like it. Academic Systems can be
useful to develop rote skills but is not likely to do much for conceptual
understanding. Some of the "applications" are laughable or insulting--the
use of scientific notation is to obfuscate the size of a lottery prize,
conic sections are stored in a museum, and a matrix determinant is taken of
basketball statistics (for no discernible reason).
On the plus side, most of the explanations of techniques are quite clear,
and some of the videos are amusing. There are many students who will enjoy
learning from Academic Systems. The management system does record data that
the instructor can use to assess student progress.
I am currently in England (Fulbright Teacher Exchange) and Academic Systems
has a pilot program to introduce the product here. The English curriculum
is so different from that in the US that AS has had to modify its
policies--in particular they are marketing the product simply as an
ancillary to ordinary instruction.
When I investigated the product in the US, I found the price outrageous.
The primary reason for considering it was that AS had a slick presentation
that dazzled administrators enough that money might appear not only for the
software but also to purchase the hardware necessary to run the
software--the hardware would stay around even if the software was abandoned.
Prof Elena Marchisotto has been in charge of the use of AS and of other
developmental math courses at Cal State U Northridge, one of the campuses
that piloted AS and which has been cited in claims of its efficacy. She
says longitudinal studies at CSUN show that students in the AS courses did
have higher retention and grades than comparable students in traditional
developmental math classes. However, the studies also showed that the AS
students did more poorly than their "traditional" cohorts in the following
math course. She confided that if the administration had not been paying
for AS (separate from the normal budget), she would probably not use it.
Bruce Yoshiwara
>From: smyers@SINCLAIR.EDU
>Reply-To: smyers@SINCLAIR.EDU
>To: mathedcc@archives.math.utk.edu
>Subject: [MATHEDCC] Algebra Project
>Date: Tue, 25 May 1999 11:38:39 -0700
>
>The Math Department here at Sinclair is developing an alternative
>instructional method for students not succeeding in the traditional
>method in elementary algebra. We would like to incorporate flexible
>pacing, some mastery learning, counseling and study skills, cooperative
>learning,...
>
>A software package that we are considering is "Interactive Mathematics"
>by Academic Systems. Does anyone on the list have experience with this
>program? Are there other programs as comprehensive as this package that
>you know of?
>
>You may respond to the list if you wish, or to me individually. Thanks.
>
>Susan Myers
>Mathematics Department
>Sinclair Community College
>Dayton, Oh
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