About Us
Learn about our mission and the team behind ProductiveMath™
Our Mission
At ProductiveMath™, we're revolutionizing mathematics education through the innovative lens of productive failure. Supported by a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, our team is developing an AI-powered application that transforms how students learn and teachers teach mathematics.
Our approach is based on Dr. Manu Kapur's groundbreaking "productive failure" methodology, which has shown that students develop stronger foundational knowledge when they engage with challenging problems before receiving direct instruction. By integrating cutting-edge AI technology with evidence-based educational practices, we're making this powerful learning strategy accessible to educators and students worldwide.
ProductiveMath™ uses advanced AI to generate engaging, narrative-based math problems that are tailored to students' knowledge levels and interests. Our platform supports creativity and collaboration while providing real-time assistance to both teachers and students throughout the learning process.
Research Team
Dr. Seyedahmad (Ahmad) Rahimi
Assistant Professor, School of Teaching and Learning
Director, Creative Learning through AI and Stealth Assessment in STEM (CLASS) Lab
Principal Investigator of the ProductiveMath™ project and recipient of the Diane E. Haines Teaching Excellence Award, Dr. Rahimi specializes in integrating AI and stealth assessment in STEM education. His vision extends beyond mathematics, aiming to expand the platform to other subjects and languages while fostering creativity and collaboration in learning environments.
View Profile →Dr. Anthony Botelho
Assistant Professor, School of Teaching and Learning
Director, Versatile Innovations in Affect Behavior and Learning Engineering (VIABLE) Lab
As co-Principal Investigator, Dr. Botelho brings expertise in educational technology development and implementation. His work combines educational theory with artificial intelligence to create practical, effective learning solutions that bridge the gap between research and classroom practice.
Dr. Avery Closser
Assistant Professor, School of Teaching and Learning
As co-Principal Investigator, Dr. Closser contributes valuable insights from cognitive psychology and learning sciences. Her expertise in embodied learning and educational technology helps ensure that ProductiveMath™ aligns with how students naturally learn and process mathematical concepts.
View Profile →Contact Us
We welcome collaboration and feedback from educators, researchers, and anyone interested in advancing mathematics education through productive failure. Whether you have questions about implementing our approach, want to participate in our research, or are interested in potential partnerships, we'd love to hear from you.
Contact Us