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For Immediate Release

Contact: Al Renshaw
Phone: 1-800-577-9040
e-Mail: Al Renshaw

DUQUESNE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IMPROVE PROBLEM-SOLVING ABILITY BY 45% WITH QUANTUM® ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TUTORS

Research Proves that Quantum Tutors® Significantly Increase Student Comprehension and Problem Solving Skills at College and High School Levels

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - February 16, 2005, Quantum Simulations, Inc., a developer of artificial intelligence (AI) tutoring and assessment software, released the results of research conducted at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA, where 235 science majors participated in a study as part of a national research effort to measure the effectiveness of the Quantum Tutors®.

The study randomly divided 14 recitation sections in the Duquesne general chemistry course into two groups; a treatment group (97 students) that used the Quantum Tutors® for at-home study and a control group (138 students) who received the same course instruction but did not use the Tutors.

After both groups received a lecture discussing how to assign oxidation numbers, an important skill needed to understand introductory chemistry concepts, students were given a pre-test to assess baseline performance. Both groups were then given identical homework assignments on oxidation numbers to ensure they would spend a comparable amount of study time preparing for the post-test, which was given one week after the lecture. To measure student mastery and comprehension accurately, students were required to write all steps in solving each problem rather than simply selecting an answer from a multiple-choice list. As an objective measure of performance, only completely correct solutions were accepted; no partial credit was awarded.

The impact of the Quantum Tutors® became apparent in the post-test results, where the Tutor-using group improved by 45.0% in number of correct solutions reached, outperforming the control group by an average of 20.8% more problems solved correctly on the post-test. In addition, 41.2% of students in the Tutor group solved 80% or more of the post-test problems correctly (compared to only 15.9% of students in the control group), demonstrating the Tutor's ability to help more students gain full mastery of the concepts and skills required to assign oxidation numbers.

Duquesne University: Student Improvement
Tutor Group

Control Group

Number of students
97
138
Students Solving 80% or More Post-Test Problems Correctly
41.2%
15.9%
Improvement in Correct Solutions Reached from
Pre-Test to Post-Test
+45.0%
+28.0%
For complete published research results, contact Dr. Benny Johnson at [email protected].

"The Quantum Tutors® are a novel tool in the arena of chemical education," commented Jeffry Madura, Professor and Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry Chair at Duquesne University. "Our students have found these Tutors to be extremely helpful in developing critical thinking and problem solving skills. They show the students how to solve the problem rather than provide an answer."

Because the Quantum Tutors® can accept any problem the student wants to work on and uses artificial intelligence technology to tutor the student one-on-one based on their knowledge level and learning style, the software is compatible with any textbook, curriculum or state/accreditation standards at both the high school and college levels.

"We're very enthusiastic about how the Quantum Tutors® performed in the Duquesne University study, although we're not surprised," added Dr. Benny Johnson, President and CEO of Quantum®. "We're seeing similar performance results in other schools across the country. Our research clearly demonstrates the effectiveness and versatility of the Quantum Tutors® in K-12 and higher education."

About Quantum®
Quantum Simulations, Inc. develops artificial intelligence (AI) tutoring, assessment and professional development software that empowers teachers and inspires students from middle school through college to improve their knowledge and appreciation for the sciences. Teacher tested and approved by educators across the United States, Quantum's AI software is proven in research studies to improve comprehension, problem solving skills and test scores by as much as 50%. Quantum's intelligent tutoring engines are integrated with existing web-based learning products, providing a strong competitive edge for distributing partners. A "technology think tank", Quantum® is funded and supported by the U.S. Department of Education, the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health. For a virtual demonstration of the Quantum Tutors®, visit www.quantumsimulations.com/demo.html. To subscribe to the software, visit www.quantumsimulations.com/partners.html for a list of distributing partners.

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