Millions Learned More Math with Our AI Tutor
Impact: We pioneered the first AI tutor in the '90s
Millions of middle school and high school students across the US have learned more math as a result of our work with AI-based cognitive tutoring systems.
We invented the first AI-based tutor systems and improved math learning.
This work led to...
- Widespread improvements in math learning. A randomized controlled trial in 140 schools demonstrated a doubling of math learning during the school year for students using the Cognitive Tutor course as compared to students using their regular math course.
- A spin-off company, Carnegie Learning. The work that led to the Cognitive Tutor began in the psychology and computer science departments at Carnegie Mellon University. Carnegie Learning LLC was formed in 1998 and it continues to serve hundreds of thousands of students each year from its downtown Pittsburgh office.
Supported by: Initially funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), later by the Department of Education, foundations, and venture capital.
Timing: This research started in the early 1990s and is ongoing.
Related work:
- “Intelligent tutoring goes to school in the big city” (pdf)
- “Cognitive Tutor: Applied research in mathematics education” (pdf)
Researchers: Ken Koedinger and team
Research Areas: Learning Sciences and Educational Technologies
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Millions Learned More Math with Our AI Tutor
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This approach of using a cognitive model in a tutoring system became known as a cognitive tutor.