ALEKS

ALEKS, short for Assessment and Learning in Knowledge Spaces, is an online adaptive learning and assessment platform used primarily for mathematics and related STEM subjects. It aims to determine a student’s current knowledge state and to guide individualized instruction by presenting questions that adapt to the learner’s responses.

The platform is based on knowledge-space theory, which models knowledge as a structure of topics and prerequisite relationships. As students answer questions, ALEKS updates their mastery state and selects subsequent items that target gaps, offering explanations and guided practice. A dynamic pie-chart visualization shows which topics are mastered and which remain unmastered.

History: ALEKS was developed by the ALEKS Corporation and released in the late 1990s. In 2013, McGraw-Hill Education acquired ALEKS, and the platform has since been offered as part of its digital learning products.

Content and use: The system covers topics from elementary algebra through calculus, statistics, and some chemistry. It is used in K–12 and higher education settings for placement, homework, and remediation. It begins with an initial assessment to establish a starting point; subsequent short assessments monitor progress and adjust the learning path. The software supports classroom integration and can run on web browsers and mobile devices.

Reception and impact: ALEKS has been widely adopted as a tool for personalized learning, with reports of improvements in content mastery and course completion in various contexts. Critics note that outcomes depend on implementation, alignment with curricula, and access to instructor support.