Math pedagogy in the US leans to understanding being more important than practice. This is wrong. As you point out, understanding more often comes from practice. To correct this imbalance, software like your company is developing is useful, as are platforms like ALEKS, iReady, etc.
The challenge is addressing the social aspect of learning -- the benefits students get from working and learning together. Is it still a classroom if all the students are doing different things?
Of course, students come in with different abilities and levels of preparation. Differentiation that works in a class setting is very hard. Software is the easier part. Students who are motivated to learn and can grow with guidance from a computerized tutoring environment -- helping them is also the easier part.
The initial version of the Math Academy system has been primarily geared toward individual learners, which for a variety of technical and business reasons was the only realistic way to get off the ground.
However, we're implementing a variety of features that will give teachers the ability to direct their class's learning progression while still allowing the system to adapt to and meet each student's individual needs. In some cases, it will provide critical remediation while for others it will offer topic extensions and challenge problems. Additionally, the system will offer a variety of differentiated group and class projects that are unlocked as students demonstrate mastery of the requisite skills.
Math pedagogy in the US leans to understanding being more important than practice. This is wrong. As you point out, understanding more often comes from practice. To correct this imbalance, software like your company is developing is useful, as are platforms like ALEKS, iReady, etc.
The challenge is addressing the social aspect of learning -- the benefits students get from working and learning together. Is it still a classroom if all the students are doing different things?
Of course, students come in with different abilities and levels of preparation. Differentiation that works in a class setting is very hard. Software is the easier part. Students who are motivated to learn and can grow with guidance from a computerized tutoring environment -- helping them is also the easier part.