The ALEKS system is the product of years of cutting-edge research into the mathematical modeling of human knowledge (Chap. 8). The creators of ALEKS are cognitive scientists, software engineers, and university professors. In designing ALEKS, their goal was to achieve the utmost simplicity of use without compromising the depth, rigor, or richness of instruction at its inspirational best. ALEKS is a tool to empower both instructors and learners. It opens doors into the assessment and representation of knowledge, and it breaks down barriers to success by recognizing the vast diversity of paths that lead to mastery. The ALEKS system can make a radical difference in how learning is experienced.

ALEKS is an online system for the assessment and individualized teaching of a variety of subjects. It can be accessed on the Internet from virtually any computer and is designed to allow the monitoring and management of students and courses at the instructor, college, and system levels. The core of the system is an efficient, adaptive assessment engine that determines quickly and precisely what an individual student knows (an assessment is also called a knowledge check). Based on assessment data, the system is able to offer material that the student is ready to learn. The ALEKS Learning Mode includes explanations and algorithmically generated practice problems, ongoing assessment of student knowledge, an online dictionary, and facilities for review and collaborative help. It can be used on an independent basis or as a supplement to classroom instruction.