KNEWTON'S LAW: A couple weeks ago we wondered if edtech trademarks--like what Knewton has done with "adaptive learning"--were just a simple marketing trick. The company apparently has taken note and wishes to distinguish itself from the rest of the crowd. Its recent white paper attempts to explain in layman's terms how Knewton's platform applies statistical theories and probability models from data science to its engine. Even so the non-data miners among us may still be left a tad puzzled; at least the many graphs and illustrations help a bit. It's a step in the right direction for a hotshot upstart that's engendered both accolades and criticisms for raising a ton of money--and is still in private beta.
