Why Collinear?

Dear Educators,

For decades, STEM education has followed the same pattern: teachers assign work, students complete it, and educators spend countless hours grading, often sacrificing detailed feedback for time efficiency. In an era where AI can write essays and solve complex equations, why are we still grading the same way we did 50 years ago?

As students who often received STEM assignments back weeks after submission in high school, and later as students and teaching assistants at Yale University, we experienced this problem from both sides. We watched educators struggle with the overwhelming volume of grading, and we remembered how delayed feedback affected our own learning journeys years earlier. The problem persists across all educational levels, from high school through university.

Fast forward to 2024, in a world where personalized learning is paramount, yet teachers are more overwhelmed than ever. The average STEM teacher spends 15-20 hours per week grading, leaving precious little time for what matters most—teaching and connecting with students. Schools invest heavily in various educational tools, but the fundamental problem remains: quality feedback takes time, and time is the one resource teachers can't buy more of.

And even when teachers manage to provide detailed feedback, how effective is it? Studies show that students often receive their graded work days or weeks after submission, when the material is no longer fresh in their minds. The learning moment has passed. In STEM subjects, where concepts build upon each other, this delay can be particularly damaging, leading to compounding gaps in understanding.

Finally, let's talk about equity. In a world where private tutoring and supplemental resources are increasingly expensive, how do we ensure every student receives the quality feedback they need to succeed? How do we make sure no student falls through the cracks simply because their teacher didn't have time to identify their specific learning gaps?

The way we assess STEM learning is broken. Current methods create teacher burnout, delayed feedback, inconsistent evaluation, and missed learning opportunities. We need a smart, efficient, and equitable way to assess student work that values both accuracy and learning outcomes.

That's why we built Collinear.

We invite you to join us in transforming STEM education. Whether you're a single teacher looking to save time on grading or a school district seeking to improve STEM assessment at scale, Collinear is here to help.

With determination and hope for the future of education,