with an Mental Scholar

    AlgebraScholar™ is the Future of Textbooks.

  • Active Learning
  • Multi-Associative Curriculum
  • Permalearning™
  • 450 Challenge Sets
  • 6000 Questions with Solutions
  • Smart Textbook
  • Accessible
  • $5.99
  • Available for iOS, Android and Chromebooks

Features

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Active Learning

Active learning is a superior learning methodology compared to passive learning. Our app focuses on active learning throughtout the app.

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Multi-Associative Curriculum

Memories can be formed more rapdily through associatiation. That is connecting a new idea to one the learner already knows. This strengthens both memories. Our curriculum has been designed to maximize this principle of memory.

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Permalearning

Permalearning is the name of our learning process based on the neuroscience of memory.

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450 Challenge Sets

Each challenge set has 3 lightbulbs, meaning a student can collect 1350 lightbulbs. It is different way to make progress through Algebra

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6000 Questions with Solutions

We have a large variety of problems in the app. Each problem has a worked and explained solution. This allows for a student to immediately self-correct.

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Traditional Textbook Materials

Traditional textbook materials are a form of passive learning. We included textbook lessons, and homework problems with odd answers.

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Accessible

We utilized Apple's VoiceOver technology in order to allow visually impaired students to use our app. We also offer support for auditory impairments and color blindness.

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$5.99

We want everyone in the world to be able to afford Algebra Scholar™. The cost of textbooks has increased by 1000% in the last 30 years. The only way to reverse this trend is to produce something better than a textbook and sell it at a very competitive price.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Smart Textbook?

A Smart-Textbook is an active learning textbook designed for smartphones, tablets and chromebooks. It also uses active learning to present content in the same way a tutor would.

What is PermaLearning™?

PermaLearning™ is the name of our learning process. It is the conjunction of two words, permanent and learning. Those two words refer to the main feature of our learning process. It is a learning process, based on neuroscience, education science and gamification designed to form long-term memories. That is memories that can potentially last a lifetime. It is a goal that students who complete permalearning will be able have a high retention rate.

Disclaimer- Mental Scholar Inc makes no promises about the efficacy of PermaLearning™

Is this supposed to replace teachers and classrooms?

No. Algebra Scholar™ is designed to replace textbooks. We are designing classroom lesson plans that teachers can adapt to their own lesson plans. We also do not want to limit great teachers from implementing their own lesson plans. We are working with teachers and school districts to improve our software.

Why does your app show Solutions?

Showing solutions is one of our solutions to the 2-sigma problem. The 2 sigma problem is the observation that an expert tutor is the highest form of education, but it is prohibitively expensive to provide every student with an expert tutor. During a tutoring session an expert tutor will be able to explain in detail any and every problem allowing a student to immediately self-correct. Showing a solution to every problem will allow a student to immediately self-correct. It also takes the fear and struggle away from learning as the solution is not locked behind a veil. While a computer program can never replace an expert tutor or great teacher, it can get us partially the way there.

Will Algebra Scholar™ be translated into multiple languages?

Yes. It is our intent to translate our apps into as many languages as possible. The first three languages will be Spanish, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional) and Japanese. In Japan we will have to compete with the traditional Kumon education model. We will try to release a Korean translation to go along with our Android port. French, German, Italian, and Arabiac translations will soon follow.

Will there be a Chromebook version?

Yes the Android version of Algebra Scholar™ runs on Chromebooks. The Chromebook version has been designed to take advantage of ChromeOS.

What is the launch Curriculum?

We have 15 sections in our launch product(with many more planned)

Simplifying
  • Addition on a Number Line
  • Equations and Inequalities
  • Algebraic Properties
  • Multiplication
  • Division and Reciprocals
Operations
  • Adding Fractions
  • Distributive Property
  • Absolute Value
  • Exponents
  • Order of Operations
Solving Linear Equations
  • Solving with Addition
  • Solving With Multiplication and Division
  • Solving 2 Step Equations
  • Solving with Extra Variables
  • Solving With Absolute Value

What is a Textbook Tutor?

It is an active textbook written as if tutoring a student.

What is the difference between active and passive learning?

Examples of passive learning including sitting in a lecture, reading a textbook, or watching a video. Those are passive activities. Active learning is learning by doing or learning by asking and answering questions. Active learning forces a learner to actively engage in the learning process. University of Texas did an educational study demonstrating the greater efficacy of active learning.

What is multi-association?

Memories are formed by repitition at the synpase. This repetition triggers gene expression and localized protein sythnesis. When you connect a new memory to an already established memory that is called association. This associatation rapidly increase the likelyhood of memory formation. All of our content is designed to be connected to other content which strengthens both memories.

What is the 2 Sigma Problem?

It is the oberservation that the average tutored student performs in the 98 percentile which is 2 standard deviations, or 2 sigma. See Bloom's 2 Sigma Problem on Wikipedia. Our active lessons are written from a tutor's perspective. We also include fully worked solutions to our questions. This allows students to immediately self-correct.

Will Mental Scholar inc. release different smart-textbooks in the future?

Yes. Algebra Scholar™ was always designed to be a platform that can be adapted to multiple subjects. We have plans to build smart-textbooks for every applicable subject. Our next subject is Civics Scholar™ which will teach kids a basic understanding of government. Following that we will build Climate Scholar™ to teach the basics of Climate Science. Our goal is to create a smart-textbook for every subject which will take us more than a decade of work. Calculus Scholar™, Geometry Scholar™, Algebra 2 Scholar™, Trigonometry Scholar™, Pre-Calculus Scholar™, Biology Scholar™, Pre-Algebra Scholar™, Arithemtic Scholar™, Elementary Math Sccholar™, Grammar Scholar™, Vocabulary Scholar™, Chemistry Scholar™, Physics Scholar™ and US History Scholar™ will be among the next books we will produce. We would also like to produce graduate level smart textbooks such as Neuroscience Scholar™ because we know a smart-textbook works better than a $300 dumb textbook. We will also include AP exam prep software in those subjects that have AP exams.

Why Algebra?

Algebra is the subject that most often trips students. Simply hearing the word "Algebra" invokes fear in many students. That needs to change. It is the language of math. All STEM subjects require an understanding of Algebra. Beyond that every subject can benefit with a understanding of Algebra. If we can teach Algebra better than everyone else, it means we can teach everything

Will we be forced to make in-app-purchases to obtain future material?

No! Mental Scholar inc does not believe in in-app purchases, so you will not have to purchase future material. When each new chapter is completed you will be able to update the app without any additional cost. The amount of material currently in the app easily exceeds most textbooks while being of higher quality. We will also continued to iterate and improve content for all chapters.

Why are there no hints?

Hints are often used as a crutch for students. Every single problem has a worked solution. Our goal is to teach you how to do the problem and how to think. If you get a problem wrong read the solution. See what you did wrong and improve.

More questions?

Get in touch

Story behind the app

I am the son of two teachers, and they instilled in me a joy of learning and a natural talent for teaching. Students from elementary thru graduate school have benefited from my tutoring. Expert tutors have been scientifically demonstrated to be the most effective form of education, and I was one of the best.

The cost of textbooks has dramatically and unprecedentedly increased without an improvement in quality. I wanted to do something about this problem. Most education software lacks depth, and even the large education platforms(Kahn Academy, etc) have yet to achieve mastery level learning. I leveragde my experience tutoring in order to build an educational product that can achieve results greater then mastery.

My Graduate research was in Neurotransmiiter fluid flow dynamics which has provided me a fundamental understanding of memory. My undergraduate work was in computer science and mathematics. I combined education science, neuroscience and gamification in order to build a suite of products that replaces standard dumb-textbooks.

This project has taken a long time, but the end product Algebra Scholar™ will help students learn algebra.

Adrian Westall

Founder and CEO

Contact US

We’d love to hear from you. We want to hear your suggestions.

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