The Tribune

The Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI) has been using Internet-based learning systems to reduce the fear of mathematics among its students.

The subject has always been daunting for Darian Smith. Since high school, he always struggled with maths and it was his least favourite lesson. That fear followed him into the classrooms at BTVI.

Although Mr Smith has had several maths teachers during his academic career, he always felt he was struggling alone. It was not until he was introduced to the Assessment and LEarning in Knowledge Spaces (ALEKS) system at BTVI that he began to understand and appreciate the topic.

"The idea of having to take math at BTVI really intimidated me. I was like: 'Ah! I'm going to fail again.' But after doing my prep classes and being introduced to ALEKS, it was smooth sailing from there", said the information technology management major.

ALEKS is a web-based, artificial intelligent assessment and learning system. It uses adaptive questioning to quickly and accurately determine what a student knows and does not know in a math course.

The system allows instructors to create lessons based on their course outlines. Upon the students' initial log-in, they are given a knowledge test to assess what topics they have mastered and what topics they need to work on.

Based on those results, ALEKS creates a personal learning plan that teaches and assesses students' mastery of content and skills. The system also regularly tests and retests the same skills to make sure students retain knowledge.

Because of ALEKS, Mr Smith says he is much more confident in his math skills and has even become a tutor for BTVI students who face the same struggles he once did. He tutors students from prep math to college algebra.

"A lot of the students I tutor don't understand the fundamentals, and that's what ALEKS helped me with," said Mr Smith, who has now completed all levels of math at BTVI.

Like Mr Smith, Ashley Wright also had a fear of math that followed her from high school.

"With Math, I just completely never understood what was going on. Even after having tutors I didn't know what was going on," said the cosmetology student.

"ALEKS alleviated some of the pressure in math for me because I actually thought I was going to fail my last math class and I ended up getting an 'A' thanks to ALEKS. It's even still helping me in my current math class," added the 22 year-old.

"I feel as if the foundation is what I was really missing and, because of the constant practice in ALEKS, math is easier for me now."

BTVI instructor, Ron Clarke, credits ALEKS for changing his students' attitudes towards math and making it easier for him to focus on those who need special attention.

"I have been teaching Math at BTVI for the past eight years, and ALEKS is the best program that has ever happened to us," said Mr Clarke.

"In ALEKS, I can see every mistake the students make and how many times they've made it, so I can then go and give individual attention to students with problems. So everybody moves at their own pace.

"Students love technology. They can get on to ALEKS from their smartphones or tablets and sit around campus and just practice math. They love it."

Mr Clarke said there had been a substantial increase in the percentage of students passing maths during the past two semesters using ALEKS.

Since its implementation in spring 2017, the overall math pass rate has steadily increased every semester - with an overall rise of 11 percent. In BTVI's math prep course, the average knowledge test score rose from an initial 57 percent to 98 percent by the end of the semester.

BTVI's math department chair, Archilene O'Brien, said: "A few semesters ago there were a few students whose math gaps were so extensive that we contemplated recommending that they be transferred to another institution.

"After two semesters on ALEKS, the students have moved from a dismal 'F' to 'C' average - an achievement that would not be possible without their long hours of persistence and commitment to working on ALEKS."

More than 80 students received awards this April for passing certificates from ALEKS. And, for spring 2018, the math withdrawals decreased by 50 percent compared to the previous year, marking the lowest ever withdrawal rate.