Tuan was given the Higher Ed ALEKS All-Star Educator Award for his work in improving equity in the classroom and giving all students an opportunity to succeed. Tuan has effectively used ALEKS to fast-track student success in math, motivating his students to set higher standards for themselves and take responsibility for their learning. He is also a trusted resource for other faculty members, providing training for his peers who are considering how best to implement ALEKS in their own classes.
The two winners will each receive a $1,000 donation from McGraw-Hill to an education-focused non-profit or charity of his or her choice, a $250 gift card and a collection of McGraw-Hill professional books.
McGraw-Hill also recognizes four additional educators with Honorable Mentions. The 2019 ALEKS All Star Educator Honorable Mentions – each of whom has made a tremendous difference in the lives of their students – are:
- JoAnn Weinberg, AIMS and Math Seminar Coordinator at American Heritage School in Delray Beach, Florida, for her work in using ALEKS to increase student performance across all levels of ability. (K-12 Honorable Mention)
- Gina Martinelli, Math teacher at Oak Creek West Middle School in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, for her work in using ALEKS to guide her students toward becoming independent, confident learners. (K-12 Honorable Mention)
- Mallary DeSantis, Assistant Professor of Math at Harrisburg Area Community College in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, for her work in using ALEKS to substantially improve her school’s developmental mathematics curriculum. (Higher Ed Honorable Mention)
- Holly Dickin, Associate Lecturer of Math at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, for her relentless dedication to helping her students succeed and excel in math. (Higher Ed Honorable Mention)
Based on the theory of “knowledge spaces” from cognitive science, ALEKS (Assessment and LEarning in Knowledge Spaces) uses artificial intelligence to create personalized and dynamic learning paths for K-20 students based on their unique needs. Since all students enter a course with varying levels of preparedness, ALEKS’s technology pinpoints what students already know, what they don’t and, most importantly, what they’re ready to learn next. To date, ALEKS has helped more than 20 million students at thousands of K-12 schools, colleges and universities throughout the world.