TOMSK, Apr 22 – RIA Tomsk. Adaptive
mathematics learning platform Plario, created by Tomsk State University (TSU)
and ENBISYS company, helped students improve their subject proficiency. The
results of testing the first module the project managers called
"fantastic". Whether the algorithms ready to completely replace
lectures - in the material of RIA Tomsk.
Queen
of sciences
From the
3.5 thousand first-year students entering TSU every year, two-thirds study
mathematics, even if it was not required for admission (as, for example, at the
Faculty of Psychology or some specialties related to economics). This is the
most common subject at the university, but at the same time - the most
problematic.
“Practically
all Russian universities today suffer from a low input level of students in
mathematics”, - says the executive director of the Strategic academic unit
"Institute of the Human Digital Age" of TSU Galina Mozhaeva. Meanwhile,
without knowledge of mathematics in the modern world, based on technology, it
is impossible to get a sought-after education ...
Traditionally,
the problem was solved by “harassing” lagging behind with the help of
individual lessons, but this path - is rather long. And expensive - considering
the spent teacher's time.
"A
year ago, we started talking about the need for adaptive educational
technologies which could individualize training and take away the routine work
from teachers. And when we found a partner with a very high level of
development - the ENBISYS company, we were able to implement the idea in just
three months. We expected the results to be high. But they, in my opinion,
turned out to be just fantastic", - says Mozhaeva.
© РИА Томск. Таисия Воронцова
Всего курс будет содержать шесть модулей. For adaptive learning systems, mathematics is ideal because it is well algorithmized. The first module - "Transformations of algebraic expressions" - has already been launched, 150 students tested it. In total, the course will contain six modules.
Dialogue
with the machine
In testing
the platform, named Plario, participated 150 first-year students of the
Institute of Applied Mathematics and Computer Science of TSU. That is, people
who have a fairly high basic level of mathematics. And even they noted the
effectiveness of the classes: “It's interesting, useful and convenient thing. I
think if a person has the desire to learn, then under such a program this can
be done with ease”, - students responded.
"Students
who had a level of 22% after the input diagnostics (possession of module
material) after eight hours of classes in Plario raised their level to 73%. In
fact, we managed to make a digital tutor", - notes Mozhaeva.
© предоставлено компанией ENBISYS
Analytics showed that during classes students spend more time on Plario.ru than VKontakte. After all, this is a competition with yourself. Plus, the developers used gaming technology, and pumping skills in the game is even more exciting.
As it's
explained by the director of the ENBISYS company Dmitry Bubnov, in classical
online courses the degree of student involvement in each particular moment is a
little taken into account. The effect of the adaptive system is precisely in
the fact that it selects the learning trajectory based on the individual basic
knowledge and progress of each student.
"At
the diagnostic stage, genetic algorithms are used, with the help of which a
digital twin is created. The input testing data is used to predict students'
mastery of the material. Adaptive learning begins with its weak points", -
says Bubnov.
© предоставлено компанией ENBISYS
A student asks questions during the lesson, the system recognizes them and in real-time offers him appropriate educational content in this particular case.
If one solve
the equation - the script went one way, if did not understand - then just
stopped on the material in more detail.
Further,
the system of adaptive learning constantly “communicates” with the student, for
this, artificial intelligence from GoogleCloud is built into Plario - it is
responsible for accurate speech recognition. For the quick delivery of student
voice from the browser to the cloud server and back own ENBISYS technology is
responsible.
Also, the
company's programmers have written algorithms that help recognize the meaning
of speech and highlight standard behavior patterns in order to instantly select
the appropriate scenario depending on the user's reaction.
Eight
experienced mathematicians of TSU (teachers of Institute of Applied Mathematics
and Computer Science (IAMCS), Faculty of Mechanics and Mathematics, and Faculty
of Radiophysics), coordinated by the associate professor of the Probability
Theory and Mathematical Statistics Department of IAMCS Diana Dammer, and
Svetlana Veledinskaya, the director of the Center of Professional Competences
Profile, prepared about one thousand articles and tasks.
© РИА Томск. Павел Стефанский
"It was necessary to decompose the usual material into very small portions: the smaller (but substantively complete) the content is, the more adaptive the system will be", - says Galina Mozhaeva.
Human
mind
In
principle, many subjects can be formalized, not just mathematics. According to
Mozhaeva, TSU already has a team which wants to make adaptive computer science
training. There are even plans for the Russian language.
“Of course,
it is impossible to replace everything with “digit”. This is just one of the
types of educational materials and technological solutions. We support blended
learning: digital technologies, on the one hand, on the other, there is always
a teacher”, - summarizes Mozhayeva.
By September,
the development of all six modules in mathematics will be completed, Plario
will be available to all TSU students. As Bubnov said, since fall will begin
the distribution of the system in other universities - in Russia it has no
competitors yet.