Adaptive Learning System Review

My favorite adaptive learning platform was ALEKs. They did a really good job marketing the product on their website. I also like that they offer subscriptions and a free trial, so you can get started using it right away. I have also used McGraw Hill in my classroom and am familiar with their products and know they are effective.
Three claims listed by ALEKs are that their system enables the same learning opportunity to all their students, that their system adapts to each student, and that their system provides individual support to each student. They did provide good research on their website to help back up this claim. I also like their news releases page, which allows those interested to see how they are updating their features as time progresses.
 
My least favorite adaptive learning system was DreamBox. I did not feel they did as good of a job highlighting their system on their website. They make big claims, but do not have enough data to support their claims, even though their system may work well for learners. They do include information that shows the research and entities involved in their system. They also provide a free trial period which is actually longer than ALEKs (14 days as opposed to 7). Another plus is they have a demo, which you can look at, and although it is more of a presentation, it does give you a look at their interface.
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Three claims that DreamBox make are that they help students build confidence, that their system adapts intelligently, and that their system provides insights to ensure success. Although I’m sure that if any of these systems are used consistently, they could certainly help students master content; however, I still think some of these claims qualify more as hype than a certainty. My experience as an educator leads me to believe that some students and parents are just not great fits for learning management systems.