Agreement will integrate Enlearn’s Generative Adaptive Engine with EkStep, a learner-centric platform that creates personalized learning journeys for every child; Goal of new global technology alliance is to improve literacy and numeracy for millions of children in India over the next five years, with a particular focus on first-generation learners
Seattle, Washington (PRWEB) July 21, 2015
Enlearn (www.enlearn.org) – a not-for-profit K-12 company that is harnessing real-time classroom data to automatically optimize the learning ecosystem of students, teachers, and content – today announced an agreement with the not-for-profit Personalized Learning Platform Foundation of India that will integrate Enlearn’s Generative Adaptive Engine with EkStep (www.ekstep.org), a learner-centric platform to create personalized learning journeys for every child. The goal of this important technology integration is to improve applied literacy and numeracy for millions of children in India over the next five years, with a particular focus on first-generation learners.
Enlearn’s Generative Adaptive Engine delivers a virtually infinite content set in real-time that can then be personalized to the learning needs and styles of each learner. More specifically, Enlearn’s Engine continuously determines the next best action — as well as the problems and content — needed to optimize learning for each learner.
In recent trials, generative adaptation helped students reach an average mastery rate of 94.5% in solving algebraic equations after 1.5 hours. Although the content was 7th grade, the result was achieved by all participating K-12 classrooms, including early elementary.
Students also solved 4.5 times more problems in classrooms using Enlearn’s Generative Adaptive Engine, and teachers were able to assist individual students three times more frequently compared to using the paper version of the same curriculum.
“We’re incredibly excited about joining forces with EkStep and optimizing learning for millions of children,” says Zoran Popović, Enlearn’s Founder and Chief Scientist. “If we want to help an entire generation of young people learn in the 21st century, we need to make school work for the kids who are being failed by the current model. Generative Adaptation has the potential to help solve this – to create learning pathways created for, and specialized to, each learner.”
Adds Shankar Maruwada, EkStep’s CEO and Co-founder: “We’re working hard to build an ecosystem of educational content and tools from multiple partners to support personalized learning in numeracy and literacy, and Enlearn definitely stood out and was the clear choice for true personalization. Learning gaps can affect student performances, especially primary level students from disadvantaged backgrounds. And, if left unaddressed, this can affect a child’s confidence and continued engagement in the education process. Partnering with Enlearn is going to go a long way toward tackling this critical issue.”
Launched in January 2015, EkStep’s other Co-Founders are Nandan Nilekani (Co-Founder and former CEO of Infosys) and Rohini Nilekani, who has extensive experience in the education sector. EkStep is funded by philanthropic capital from the Nilekanis, who want to use the latest advancements in learning sciences and digital technologies to help millions of young children experience the joy of learning.
Enlearn introduced its Generative Adaptive Engine after five years of cutting-edge research by Popović and his team at the University of Washington’s Center for Game Science (CGS). In addition to his Enlearn responsibilities, Popović is also a Professor of Computer Science at the University of Washington and the Director of the Center for Game Science.
