by Janet Elder
First published 2013
Students enter a digital learning environment where adaptive technology measures their reading abilities from seventh grade through college preparation levels. The system creates individual pathways for each learner, adjusting continuously as they demonstrate mastery of critical reading skills. Second-language learners work alongside international students, adult learners, and traditional high school students, all following customized diagnostic assessments. The online platform connects with printed workbooks that feature excerpted chapters from popular undergraduate textbooks in psychology, sociology, and business fields. Students practice close reading techniques while engaging with real academic content. The tension emerges between standardized educational approaches and truly individualized learning paths. At its heart, this story explores how technology can adapt to serve diverse student needs while maintaining rigorous academic standards.
Genres: education, non-fiction, technology, academic
Vibes: thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family
864 pages · Paperback · McGraw-Hill