ALTER-Math by the University of Florida

ALTER-Math helps middle school students learn math more effectively by turning them into teachers of an AI “student.” As students explain concepts, correct mistakes, and guide their AI learner, they strengthen their own understanding and confidence through a research-based approach called learning by teaching. The system applies social psychological interventions that enhance motivation and persistence, where students can personalize their AI peers and choose problem-solving contexts such as sports or music to make learning more relatable and meaningful. To help students overcome misconceptions, ALTER-Math presents contrasting cases that display correct and incorrect solutions side by side, allowing students to see why one works and another does not. By combining these evidence-based strategies with individualized AI feedback and integration into the Math Nation platform, ALTER-Math aims to make high-quality math learning both effective and accessible for all students.

ALTER-Math’s Impact

• In a quasi-experimental study involving 212 students, researchers found that learners in the ALTER-Math group had an 8-percentage-point higher post-test score compared with those in the control group. Learn more.

What have teachers said about ALTER-Math?

• “I’ve never had a program that encourages students to really explain their answers, and that’s important.”
• The students feel very excited when I tell them that we’re going to be using this math tool, and they love that they’re the ones tutoring instead of the reverse.

Media

• Video demo of ALTER-Math
• This is What AI in the Classroom Looks Like | The Cutting Ed
• 5 Questions With The Developers Of ALTER-Math | The Cutting Ed