Acellus - The Science of Learning

Here are some of the things current Acellus users have to say about the system:

Acellus Boosts Student Achievement

"We had been giving some of our sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students some time on the Acellus FUNdamental Mathematics program as a supplement to their regular math course. They took lessons here and there, as they had extra time or as the teacher directed."

"One of our sixth grade students, however, took it upon herself to go through the entire course, from beginning to end. I was pretty amazed when, at the end of the year, the math teacher called me over and said, 'Hey, I've got something to show you.'"

"He pulled out the student test scores on our standard test for the beginning and end of the year and pointed out the scores for our little 6th grade "Acellus" student. She had tested right on level - at 6.3 - at the beginning of the year . . . but by the end of the year, after the Acellus course, she tested at 11.9."

-- Linda Hampton
Technology Coordinator
Meade School District
Sturgis, SD

Deploying Acellus into Existing Curriculum - Giving Credit for Acellus Courses

      “Colfax School District is a public school [that] uses the Acellus program for remediation for students in grades 7-12. We have used the FUNdamental Math for about one year and are just incorporating the Algebra program. We have found that students who use the FUNdamental Math program find the program easy to use and grasp the information quickly. Because of the level of understanding upon completing the program, we offer credit to those who complete successfully rather than our original intent of supplementing the pre-algebra program. We will be encouraging students who did not feel they are ready for algebra to take the FUNdamentals class this summer as a refresher and we will use the Algebra program for remediation and credit retrieval through our summer school program.”

Michael Morgan, Superintendent
Colfax School District
Colfax, WA

Acellus Curriculum Exceeds State Standards

      “We are so impressed with Acellus! The fact that 83 of the 85 lectures of Fundamental Mathematics are concepts that we focus on in our schools speaks volumes. And with the daily updates, it is like Acellus is a living, breathing product.”

Anne Farrington, Technology Specialist
Holy Name of Jesus School
Indialantic, FL

Acellus Raises Test Scores

     “Since we purchased Acellus Math during the 2003/2004 school year, our test scores have shown a steady increase. Our AYP report shows a 6% increase over the last two years for students passing the math portion of our state test. Our Algebra students are also required to take a state mandated End of Course Test (EOCT) in Algebra. We have had an impressive 99% passing rate on the EOCT for Algebra. I can attribute much of this success to Acellus Math.

     “All of our students spend part of their week on Acellus Math. It has been well received by the Algebra students and is used extensively in the Algebra classes. We also use Acellus Math with our After-School Program which is designed to accelerate student learning.

     “I would recommend Acellus Math as another tool to help meet the accountability demands.”

Terry Graff, Principal
Jane Macon Middle School
Brunswick, Georgia

District-Wide Implementation of Acellus

      “We initially purchased both the Acellus Fundamental Math and the Algebra 1 courses so that we could review them and make a determination as to whether the Acellus Learning System would be an effective tool to help our students who are struggling in Math. After we received the servers, the Acellus trainers came on-site and trained some of our Middle & High School Principals, Special Program Specialists and Math Teachers on how to use Acellus. The initial feedback we received after the training is that Acellus is a good tool to be used for the individual needs of the students. Based on the feedback from our reviewers, we purchased additional Fundamental Math & Algebra 1 Servers for district-wide implementation - placing one of each Acellus Course in all 16 Gallup McKinley County Middle and High Schools.

      “Acellus is being used at our schools for Gifted Service Delivery, Independent Work, and as an Intervention Support for students who fall behind.”

Eddi Hoedebeck, Director of Professional Development & Mentoring Support Services
Gallup McKinley County Schools
Gallup, NM

Acellus Helps Students Catch Up with Peers

     “The Acellus FUNdamental Math program is designed to help students fill in the gaps in their mathematical background. We have found that new students who enter our school in the eighth grade often lack the necessary prerequisite skills to succeed in eighth grade math. The Acellus program provided us with a means to help them catch up to their peers. For some students it was a way for them to work at their own pace to get caught up. However, the system is flexible enough for a teach to highlight certain lessons/topics and use them within the classroom setting so the whole class would benefit.”

Dr. Margareth Alexandersen, Curriculum Coordinator
PleasanTech Academy Charter School
Pleasantville, NJ

Acellus Students Out Perform Students in Traditional Classroom

      “We compared Acellus to our traditional pre-algebra class. We had one instructor use the pre-Algebra (FUNdamental Mathematics) Acellus Program and two instructors teach pre-Algebra [in] the traditional lecture style.

     “We administered [a] pre and post test [to students participating in the study]. Some of the students that we enrolled in Acellus were students that had problems with learning in the regular classroom. There were a few of the students enrolled in the Acellus Program that had failed in the regular classroom but yet after completing Acellus performed as good or better than their peers enrolled in the traditional classroom. The Acellus Program covers all the learning styles - auditory, visual, and tactile.

      “The Acellus students performed [higher] on the post test than [those in] the traditional [style] classes.

      “The Acellus Program gives the students one-on-one instruction they don’t receive in regular classrooms. With the “No Child Left Behind” being in effect, the Acellus curriculum can be the aid to assist in the goals being met.”

Tony Dearman, Principal
Sequoyah High School
Tahlequah, OK

Acellus Targets Problem Areas - Increases Student Confidence

     “Here at Wishkah we have set up a 7th and 8th grade math lab. Each student is enrolled in the Acellus program. The class is run by [myself], a math teacher in my 7th year, and one tutor, a calculus 1 student. The students are in my pre-algebra course and then also take the math lab. The Fundamental of Mathematics course parallels my own teachings in pre-algebra. FUNmath does a great job of teaching to many parts of the state GLE’s. Some students are moving more quickly than others. This allows them to see math concepts before they are introduced to them in my pre-algebra. Many times I have taught a concept just to see my students practicing them later in Acellus. On one occasion I had a student who was struggling with an up-coming test. I set him into solving percents and decimals which gave him the practice needed to be successful.

      “In the 8th grade the students labeled as low math skills were put into the Acellus math lab. This was determined by WASL scores, star math, and in class performance. Of the 8th graders in Acellus (10 out of a class of 31):

30% are now at the top with the students labeled as math advantaged.
50% have shown a great improvement; on average they have improved their pre-algebra grade 20%.

“One student in my class says that he has never passed a math class. At semester he passed with a C - for the first time ever. Students are gaining confidence through their successes; I can see a definite change in their behavior toward mathematics. A sophomore was put into the Acellus program to help build his skills because he was unable to complete the work needed for Algebra 2. He finished the FUNmath with a B+ two weeks before semester. He had always had an attitude that he can not do math. Now, he is enrolled back into Algebra 2. He is doing much better and his attitude now is: I can, it takes me longer, but I can.

“We have had such great success with FUNmath that we are now purchasing the Algebra 1 program. We are also working on ways to use the Algebra 1 along with peer tutors to improve our 9th grade class. At semester: 3 out of 11 passed with a D or better. Most will be enrolling into an Acellus Algebra 1 study course. I hope to see the same type of improvement.”

Kory McElravy, Math Chair
Wishkah Valley School District
Aberdeen, WA

Acellus Takes a Failing Student to the Top of the Class

      "Over the summer I had the opportunity to teach remedial math to a seventh grader the school was seriously considering holding back. Our school had just finished hooking up the Acellus server, so I thought I would see if it could help this young man.

      "He struggled diligently, albeit slowly, through the video lessons and assessments. After a less than satisfactory score on one of his tests, we would talk about what happened, what the right procedure was, and how to solve the different problems that kept stumping him. Then he would go back to the video lectures and try again.

      "I was very impressed with the language the instructor used and the examples that were used to teach concepts. However, I was not impressed with the progress that was being made by my young learner. By the end of our four weeks I still felt like he might benefit from another year in seventh grade. Had I made the right decision to let the Acellus program give him the bulk of his instruction over the summer?

      "The answer is a resounding, YES! The administration promoted my pupil to the eighth grade after taking everything into account.

      "I ran into his math teacher just before first nine weeks report cards, and she said, "Come take a look at this." I looked in amazement at the grades being made by a student I was not sure was going to make it. He was not just passing; he was one of the higher achievers in the class.

      "Due to the Acellus program's focus on the fundamentals and the weak areas of the student, he now has a foundation in mathematics. His hard work and that foundation are now creating success in a subject that used to defeat him."

Joshua M Guillemette, Math & Physics Teacher
Pine Castle Christian Academy
Orlando, FL

Student Speaks Out About Acellus

"This year was full of knowledge. It is hard to express how much I have learned. I especially feel that geometry was made very clear through a program called Acellus. It gave visual, auditory, and every once in a while, a kinesthetic explanation for theorems. Also, being able to stop and ask for help was very useful. I enjoyed how it gave multiple explanations for why something is as it is. It was difficult for me to learn geometry by myself with no teacher, and this was a great alternative.

"It is very useful to have a selection of justifications for theorems in geometry. I am more of a visual learner, and when that doesn’t work, I am a kinesthetic learner. Some people just need to hear it being taught. If that is the case, they can just listen to Patrick Mara (the teacher) reveal the proofs and theorems. If someone is a visual learner, Patrick always draws out the expressions he is explaining. Lastly, he even explains physical reasons for the explanation. For example, he explained how if you put a needle exactly on the centroid, the figure would balance perfectly on that needle. Little things like that make math fun and easy.

"It takes some people more than just the help of Patrick Mara to understand a lesson. I regularly call my neighbor to ask for additional help. Having a class on the computer allows you to do that. I feel like am I getting more out of this class because of the added help I can get.

"Once in a while, you need things to be explained twice. Sometimes you need a totally different explanation. Patrick Mara gives two different lectures for each lesson to ensure the students understanding. For instance, once I was learning about the altitudes of triangles, but I had to use algebraic formulas that I didn’t remember how to solve. I watched a second video with Patrick Mara and he wholly explained the equation. I am not slow… I just need a different explanation once in a while.

"Acellus is a great program that helped me to understand geometry. It gave me visual, auditory and kinesthetic justifications for theorems. Being able to stop and ask teachers or friends about a question at any given time was also a huge help. Last of all, I really like how Patrick Mara gave two lectures for a lesson, it was really a great help. Math is sometimes demanding, but with Acellus, it was made straightforward and stress free."

Taylor Wilson
9th Grade Student
CA

More . . .

“Acellus is an excellent program for students struggling with math. Also it created a way for gifted students to really excel. Acellus brought personal tutoring to each of the students in my classroom, and it made my job as a teacher a lot easier.”
-- Beverley Fenn, Teacher, Northern Missouri

“I like Acellus because I can go at my own pace. It lets me go quickly through the things that I already know, but it gives me lots of help and practice when I get to something that is harder and takes more time for me to learn.”
-- Christopher Hennen, Student

"Pass along how great your program appears to me. It is one of the best I have ever seen, and the possibilities are great. Best thing since sliced bread."
-- Jarvis Dobbs, Superintendent, Colbert, Oklahoma

“This program would be great to use for home schooling or home study such as when students take vacations or when they are home due to extended illness, to keep students from falling behind in the math curriculum. Also for accelerated students in the Gifted and Talented Educations program who use individualized learning plans. It would also be good for second language students who need individualized instruction in their first language. It is a very good program.”
-- Barbara Pirrone, Teacher, Northern California