New Zealand’s Ministry of Education has selected Mathletics as an approved, fully funded math resource for primary and intermediate schools starting in 2027. This decision is part of the country’s "Make It Count" curriculum initiative. It comes during a global push to integrate digital platforms into daily math lessons. However, as technology companies embed artificial intelligence into these programs, new research warns that digital tools only improve learning when paired with active human instruction.
What Happened
Under the Make It Count maths action plan, New Zealand schools will receive free access to the Mathletics and Mathseeds digital platforms%20and%20Mathletics) for the 2027 school year. The initiative aims to raise student performance. The goal is for 80% of Year 8 students to achieve at or above their expected curriculum level by 2030. Along with digital logins, the government is funding printed student workbooks and teacher guides to support a hybrid approach to learning. The platform's developer, 3P Learning, recently reported stronger financial results for FY26 following structural changes. The company plans to roll out more AI-enabled features to organize school resources. Some schools are already trialing the math platform early through a free Term 4 promotion to build familiarity before the nationwide rollout.
The Bigger Picture
As schools globally adopt more digital math programs, researchers are examining whether these platforms deliver real academic gains. The results are mixed. For example, a study published in Scientific Reports evaluated an AI-based system called Edmentum Exact Path. The software improved math achievement and helped student retention, but only when used as a supplement to teacher-led instruction. It did not work as a standalone replacement for a teacher.
Other studies show that simply putting software in front of students does not guarantee success. A study on intelligent tutoring systems in German schools published in Frontiers in Education found no class-level improvements in math performance. The researchers blamed inconsistent classroom implementation. Similarly, a Texas study of the visual learning program ST Math showed math growth only when students met a strict implementation floor of 1,000 completed puzzles.
As we previously reported, high screen engagement does not automatically translate to cognitive progress. When programs introduce generative AI features, students risk "cognitive offloading." A global study in Discover Artificial Intelligence identified a group of students labeled "Substitutors". These students offload their schoolwork to AI tools, which leads to lower academic performance. The study concluded that a student's self-testing habits, rather than the frequency of AI use, are the strongest predictor of learning. A systematic review in Artificial Intelligence Review also warned that many positive claims about AI in STEM learning are inflated by publication bias. The authors advised educators to ignore marketing claims.
What This Means for Families
Digital math tools like Mathletics are not instant solutions. They are highly structured practice tools that require human oversight. When used for just 30 minutes a week, Mathletics gives students a measurable advantage in test scores. But if children use these programs without guidance, they often click through tasks to earn points without absorbing the concepts. Parents should make sure that screen-based learning does not replace pencil-and-paper math practice and face-to-face conversation.
What You Can Do
First, monitor your child's active engagement by watching how they interact with the software. Make sure they solve problems on paper before entering answers online, which prevents them from guessing just to finish a module.
Second, help your child build strong study habits by asking them to explain the math rules they just practiced. This prevents them from passively relying on software hints or AI helpers.
Finally, ask your school's teachers how they integrate digital lessons with daily, in-person instruction. You want to make sure the software serves as a supplement rather than a substitute.