Knowre

Knowre is an adaptive learning program that includes Pre-Algebra, Algebra 1, and Algebra 2 lessons. Many lessons include intro comics that engage kids and make math more meaningful, and all lessons include an instructional video, a set of practice problems, and real-world application problems. Some lessons also feature "Just in Time" video clips, which target specific parts of a lesson. Kids earn coins for correct answers, which they can use to unlock any lessons they wish. Otherwise, kids must successfully complete a lesson to unlock the next one in each chapter. The system identifies each student’s strengths and weaknesses, and supporting videos and step-by-step instructions are easily accessible as kids work through problems.

Teachers can assign work to students in the form of Lessons or Reviews. Teachers can choose to assign Lessons to individual students or to the entire class. Teachers can also choose to include the videos as a mandatory part of the assignment. When teachers assign Reviews, they choose the number of problems for each student and the system automatically chooses the problems based on the student's learning profile. A comprehensive teacher dashboard tracks students' progress and shows which students have mastered specific skills and which students need additional help.   

Overall, Knowre delivers in-depth math lessons that are easy to find by topic, and each lesson has extensive supporting resources. Beyond the site's comprehensive content, a detailed teacher dashboard tracks progress and allows teachers to create assignments. As students complete lessons and solve problems, the program builds a learning profile unique to each individual, identifying their strengths and weaknesses. Teachers can use the dashboard to track students’ progress and then assign Reviews to students who need them most. This personalization could be extremely helpful for differentiated instruction, reducing a challenge that teachers often face: the points during a lesson when multiple students have different questions at the same time. In terms of supporting teachers' existing lessons, it's an excellent tool.

The program includes a Common Core map, which lists standards and lessons that cover them, but improved coverage and integration with the standards would help. Also, some more kid-friendly rewards or games with baked-in learning content would be likely to boost engagement. At the time of this review, the Common Core map didn't include alignments for the Algebra 2 lessons.