Leveraging data to drive student learning outcomes for NWEA
Recognizing the need for strategic insight, rapid innovation, and cutting-edge technology, NWEA forged a dynamic partnership with Formula.Monks.
NWEA had a vision for the future of education: a digital tool that empowers teachers to create better learning experiences for students using real-time data and insights. While they had immense expertise in the field of education, they needed a technology partner with the discovery and delivery capabilities to bring their vision to life.
In a groundbreaking collaboration, Formula.Monks joined forces with NWEA to revolutionize K-12 education by imagining Ontos: an adaptive learning platform that aimed to seamlessly integrate personalized learning, data-driven assessments, and educator enablement. Ontos represented a rare opportunity to drive unprecedented learning outcomes for students across the globe.
Delivered an MVP in just 3 months to begin testing the Ontos research platform in schools
Engaged in continuous iteration with data from more than 5,000 students at Tacoma Public Schools
Our Approach
Formula.Monks leveraged an agile, dual discovery-development process to take NWEA’s idea from concept, to MVP, to impact.
Our six-week discovery sprint revealed a number of pervasive challenges affecting teaching and learning outcomes.
Chief among these issues was EdTech’s inability to address the diverse instructional needs of students. Despite promises of personalization, the vast majority of classroom tools overly-simplified the learning journey. As a result, students and teachers were experiencing fragmented learning experiences that underserve traditional and non-traditional learners alike.
As insights flowed in from the discovery team, our development team sprang into action, translating incoming insights into tangible software solutions in real-time.
Guided by exhaustive research, we optimized the Ontos experience for a range of diverse and underserved learning needs. Paired with our emphasis on accessibility in UI/UX design, our findings enabled us to elevate Ontos’ functionality and accessibility.
Over the course of 22 months, we engaged in extensive field-testing with more than 5,000+ students and hundreds of education specialists, data scientists, and educators.
This process guided 17 rapid-fire updates that expanded, evolved, and improved Ontos’ ability to enable educator success and meet the diverse learning needs of K-12 students.
Our Impact
More Equitable Learning Experiences
Ontos’s adaptive capabilities ensured that all students, regardless of their learning pace or style, had access to a personalized education. The platform was optimized for bridging educational equity gaps by ensuring students’ journeys were neither too challenging nor simple for optimal learning outcomes.
Reduced Cognitive Load on Educators
Ontos streamlined repetitive classroom tasks, freeing up teacher’s bandwidth to engage more meaningfully with their students. The platform’s intuitive design ensured that educators could take advantage of Ontos’ comprehensive features without extensive training.
Data-Driven Insights for Educators
Teachers gained access to a wealth of student performance data, enabling them to make informed decisions and tailor their teaching strategies to individual needs. The platform offered actionable insights by translating assessment data into tangible recommendations.
In bringing Ontos to life, NWEA and Formula.Monks ushered in a new era of education, where both students and educators get more out of their daily classroom experience thanks to the power of technology.
