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 Socratic Tutor is the application site for both the public Beta test and release of the EduCAD-ST product.
EduCAD-ST or Educational Computer Adaptive Diagnostic - Socratic Tutor is the first of two products that will be developed on the EduCAD Learning Solutions patented platform.
The development cycle of the product is designed to get the product out the door in mid-2008 and every six to nine months add enhancements to the application.
The initial product release will provide the user the ability to navigate to those areas where they wish to work (what is called "Diagnostics"). Over time we will be using the diagnostic component to help perform that navigation by looking at the students psychographic and demographic data and their responses to problems and then generating the appropriate starting points for the Socratic Tutor application.
The initial product release will have a limited number of diagnostic threads, but over time these will be expanded to cover all of mathematics for grades 4-11 (algebra 2 concepts are covered as well as some pre-calc).
There is no attempt made at trying to assign grade levels to the diagnostic components. This is due to the way that EduCAD-ST works through a diagnostic component. For example, in Fractions - Addition and Subtraction, in schools a student may be exposed to the simplest forms in fourth or fifth grade. As they progress through the grades they will then come back to the familiar concepts and expand upon them. So at first they will be presented with proper fractions and no borrowing at the earliest levels, and then they will be presented with more complex concepts like borrowing in subtraction or improper fractions as they move up in grade level. EduCAD-ST doesn't separate the complexity by grade level. When a student goes into the diagnostic module for Fractions - Addition and Subtraction they are automatically presented more complex fractions as they are able to successfully complete simpler forms. Thus a student using EduCAD-ST and completing the Fractions - Addition and Subtraction diagnostic will have completed a course of study that stretches from grade four through grade six.
The initial product release will not include Socratic questioning and links to off-site directed support based on specific needs of the students. Future releases will support both of these features we feel are key to providing a well rounded educational experience.
The current Beta release is scheduled for the first quarter of 2008 with the initial product release scheduled of August 2008.
If you are interested in signing up to participate in the public Beta, please use the signup form (see the right side navigation).
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