About Us

Computer-Aided Learning is an educational software company and an affiliate of the Purdue Technology Center. The Purdue Technology Center’s high-tech incubator nurtures promising new high-technology businesses for the purpose of driving Indiana’s economic development. As an Affiliate member, Computer-Aided Learning uses the Purdue Technology Center’s facilities, services, and business development mentoring to foster business growth. Founded in 2003, Computer-Aided Learning provides innovative interactive educational applications that aid and reinforce classroom instruction and facilitate home study. Our products are sold under the CAL Tutor brand. CAL comes from Computer-Aided Learning. Tutor represents our educational goal to aid and reinforce classroom instruction and to facilitate home study.

Powerful Software That’s Easy to Use

We pride ourselves in building software that is extremely easy to use. For us, easy to use software is not a goal, it is a requirement! Instead of using traditional software help, our software uses our trademarked Just-In Time Instructor^TM . Each CAL Tutor screen’s Just-In-Time Instructor button delivers the right instruction at just the right time. For example, our CAL Tutor Specials Scheduler’s Wizard is another wonderful example of breaking down a complex process into smaller simpler steps. CAL Tutor Specials Scheduler uses simple point and click technology to construct a complex schedule for an elementary school’s special classes (music, PE, art, library, computer lab).

Innovation Leader

Computer-Aided Learning is a recognized innovator. CAL Tutor’s text-to-speech technology for spelling applications was presented at the Indiana Computer Educator’s conference (ICE) in 2003 and 2004. CAL Tutor’s other spelling innovations include a built-in recording studio for new spelling lists, a built-in Internet lookup that delivers a definition and sentence using any one of its online dictionaries, and a List Build Wizard that subdivides spelling lists into specialized lists. Examples of specialized lists are hyphenated words, words with embedded ie and ei, words with ph beginnings, words with sion and tion endings, word size (e.g, 6 to 10 characters in length), and a host of other specialized study lists created to fit a customized study strategy.

The CAL Tutor Special Classes scheduler’s export technology delivers eight report types to a principal’s Excel workbook.

Educator and Student Driven Development Methodology

Our product development begins with principals, teachers, and students defining features and requirements needed to build a successful product. A prototype is built to test the product concept with educators and students. Feedback from these tests drives innovation and enhancements. Once the prototype meets all the requirements, our Testing program is launched. Schools assisting in the Testing program received deep discounts to use the product before its official launch. At the end of the Testing program, final changes are made to the product. Next, pilot programs are conducted with several classrooms. From the pilot experiences, procedural and process instructions are developed. The product is packaged and made ready for launch, sale, and distribution. Early Adopter Discounts are offered during the first several months after product launch.

Proven Spelling Software

In 2005 the Indiana Association of School Principals held its annual state-wide Spell Bowl competition at Purdue University. The schools participated in three divisions: elementary, middle and high schools. In each division, there are four classes designating the school’s size. For schools using CAL Tutor for Spelling, Computer-Aided Learning awards a cash prize to the school achieving the highest score in each division.

Schools using CAL Tutor placed as follows in the 2005 Spell Bowl: