The success of OLI methods of integrating learning science into the educational experience is explored in this One Day in the Life article, which includes a video interview with OLI Director Norman Bier and two students who used the OLI platform when taking a computer science class for non-majors. The article tracks the experience of students who are benefiting from the use of transformational educational technology at CMU:
This semester, 15–110 is a “blended course,” combining in-class meetings with CMU’s own educational technology that is designed to improve and accelerate student learning.
Tonight, Eristoff is watching videos and working through practice problems using software that lets her know when she is making the right-and wrong-choices. The immediate feedback is a hallmark of CMU’s Open Learning Initiative (OLI), which has dozens of high-quality online courses in topics from computer science to English. OLI also tracks how students respond to each lesson and problem and then uses that data to continuously improve the course. Blended classes like 15–110 use OLI modules to help Eristoff learn more at a faster pace.
…
This approach works: studies have shown that in Carnegie Mellon’s OLI courses, students can master twice as much course material in half the class time, and there is evidence that they retain more material.
Latest News
Torus Version 33: Smarter Insights, More Powerful Adaptive Learning, and Streamlined Course Management
Torus Version 33 is one of the platform's largest releases to date, introducing the Instructor Intelligent Dashboard, significant Adaptive Pages enhancements, a comprehensive Template Management overhaul, accessibility improvements, and 151 total platform updates designed to improve teaching, learning, and course administration.
Torus Version 32b: Accessibility, Mobile Refinements, and High-Impact Fixes
Torus Version 32b is a focused addendum to Version 32, delivering meaningful improvements in accessibility, mobile responsiveness, admin workflows, and instructor analytics. This release also resolves several high-impact issues affecting proficiency filtering, course copying, and activity bank metadata. While compact in scope, 32b strengthens usability, reliability, and inclusivity across the platform.
Torus V.32 Accelerates Admin Workflows and More Actionable Instructor Analytics
Adds Score-as-You-Go feedback, redesigned scheduling, LTI integration, and cleaner data exports for smoother teaching workflows.
Design Demo ·
Demo Video ·
Release Notes (coming soon)


