How our smart learning tool works

What is Compass?

Compass is a smart learning tool developed by Explore Learning using the latest technological and pedagogical innovations. It allows tutors to deliver an individual learning experience to every child. Compass is an award-winning approach to learning. It adapts to each child, meaning the questions they see are based on their previous performance. Our smart learning tool always delivers the right questions at the right time for each child.

Our amazing logic engine and how it works

The purpose of the Compass logic engine is to provide learners with the perfect level of challenge and to allow them to make the best possible progress. This journey begins with Initial Assessment. Our Initial Assessment is driven by a machine learning model, trained on years of data to accurately place learners at the correct level of challenge as quickly as possible. It gets to know each child as an individual, allowing them to make real progress from the very start of their membership.

Instant feedback

With Compass there's no need to wait for questions to be marked, feedback is instant. The pace is set by each child, so if they need a little more time to work on a topic they

keep going until they are confident. Equally if they understand a skill, they quickly move on to keep each child stimulated and challenged.

Pathway to mastery

Starting at the right level children work in a systematic way through individual maths and English skills working towards mastery. Mastery is recorded when we see consistent correct answers.

Graphic of skill mastery in Explore Learning's Compass learning tool

The zone of proximal development

Compass is designed to keep children in the zone of proximal development (ZPD). This is the ‘just right’ zone where children can achieve new skills with guidance. It’s a key concept in educational psychology that describes the ideal range of challenge for learning.

When a child encounters a tricky topic, Compass provides support through scaffolding. This may be an intervention or reintroduction of a supporting skill. Children will spend focused time on that area in ‘practice mode’, allowing their tutor to coach the concept and if they continue to struggle, we take a break from the skill and approach the concepts in a different way.

Combatting the forgetting curve

We know that forgetting happens soon after learning. We use spaced learning, reviewing new skills over a few lessons, to slow down the rate that children forget. Children are presented with questions in a mixed presentation - they see questions from a variety of topics during a session e.g. addition, fractions, measurement. This keeps learning varied, stimulating, prepares children for tests all while spacing the learning. They will achieve mastery of a skill by answering questions correctly over a number of lessons.

Graphic of a Session Summary in Compass, Explore Learning's learning tool

Compass also checks for retention of skills once they are mastered. 28 days after a skill has been mastered children will see the skill again so we can check if they still have a strong understanding in that area.

Increasing learner engagement

Our reward and recognition programme embedded in Compass uses the latest educational research. Every child has a fearless learning habit that they work towards in their session and review at the end.

Children are rewarded for their engagement, progress and attitude. They earn points which they can use in their ‘Character Studio’ to create a character as unique as they are.

Graphic of Character Studio in Explore Learning's learning tool Compass

Before character studio, children were practising on average 15 minutes a week independently. Now they are averaging 1 hour of independent learning each week.

Independent Session time increase after character studio was added graphic

Proven results

On average, children master two new skills for every 30 minutes spent on Compass. This equates to 19 months of progress in a year.

Explore Learning children make 19 months' progress in one year graphic

This highly effective tool allows our tutors to have the most impact on your child's learning. They can teach difficult concepts in a timely way so your child can keep moving forward and experiencing success.

Our smart learning tool has been tried and tested by teachers, tutors and, most importantly, thousands of children who tell us how much they love it every day!