{TOS Review} ALEKS Math

To be honest, I really didn’t want to sign up for this review.  I have our math curriculum, and I don’t plan to switch from it.  I’m not a fan of online math programs.  Not that I’ve ever used them with my kids. But, I am a math textbook fan.  And, I know what works for us.  However, I was pleasantly surprised! I’ll get to that in a minute.  Let me tell you a bit about ALEKS.

 

Assessment and LEarning in Knowledge Spaces is an online mathematics program that provides personalized learning and assessment tailored to a student's individual needs. Using artificial intelligence and adaptive, open-response questioning, ALEKS quickly and accurately determines what a student knows and is most ready to learn within a course.  Prices vary from $19.95 a month per student. $99.95 every 6 months and $179.95 every 12 months.

Assessment: Students begin in ALEKS by taking an individualized, adaptive assessment to determine what they already know and what they are ready to learn.  Emma thought the assessment was ‘kind of long, but not that bad’.

MyPie: The ALEKS Pie summarizes a student's current knowledge and offers topics that the student is ready to learn next. The darkened portion of each pie slice represents the topics that the student has mastered and the lighter portion represents what the student has yet to learn.  This is what grabbed Emma (3rd grade), and kept her coming back.  She really wants to fill in each of her pie pieces!  She asks to ‘play’ on ALEKS almost daily.  Isn’t that the key to a good program?  The kids are learning, but it’s so fun they don’t know they’re working!

Explanations: When a student is working on a particular problem, she can access an explanation of that problem by clicking on the "Explain" button. The explanation typically provides a step-by-step solution, with commentary. In some cases, an alternative or more detailed explanation is also available.  This was a neat tool.  Emma enjoyed being able to learn it on her own. She didn’t have to ask me for help which made her feel quite independent.

Feedback: Students receive immediate feedback and, in some cases, suggestions for correcting mistakes.  The immediate feedback is awesome in my book. Sometimes, I can’t grade an assignment later in the day or even the next one. So, the feedback isn’t immediate.  This feature of ALEKS is a huge bonus in my mind!

Review: At any time, students have the ability to review topics they have previously or recently mastered. To view topics that were added in the Learning Mode, students can click on the "Review" button on the ALEKS toolbar and can work on additional problems for review.

ALEKS QuickTables: QuickTables is a research-based, math fact mastery program for multiplication, division, addition, and subtraction.  She did not enjoy this part – at all. I am having her work on her QuickTables anyway, but it’s definitely not the part of this site she chooses to visit voluntarily.

QuickTables Interactive Games: Provide additional review and built-in rewards.  You have to learn a certain % of new math facts on the QuickTables to access the games.  We haven’t gotten to these games yet.

All in all, I am very pleased with ALEKS.  I don’t think I will subscribe at any point in the future, because what we use works.  However, if you or your student are not textbook fans. this web-based math program is certainly worth exploring.  Try the 2-month trial, and see what you think. 

To see what my fellow Crewmates think about ALEKS, visit our Homeschool Review blog.