The day when Bill Gates publicly declares his enthusiasm for Math-Whizz will be a happy day indeed at our Seattle offices.

Until then we can content ourselves with the knowledge that one of the world’s most influential technocrats (and popular tweeters) understands just what Math-Whizz is doing with online learning, and why it works:

But online learning can be more than lectures. Another element involves presenting information in an interactive form, which can be used to find out what a student knows and doesn’t know. This makes it possible to tailor the learning session to the individual student.

…the online system can quickly diagnose what the students know, provide positive feedback, and make sure their time is spent really improving the conceptual areas where they are weak.

Microsoft founder Gates, who recently moved from the big MS to his equally huge Gates Foundation charity, is clearly keen on how technology can help transform the lives of the underprivileged and poorly-educated and raise standards for everyone else.

Gates, in the ‘Online Learning’ section of his latest annual letter for the Gates Foundation, goes on to argue for co-ordination in rating and organising resources to help teachers and students find the the best material. Despite the size and influence of his former employer, he gives a hat tip to the likes of us, toiling to raise standards in math, english, science…

Some of the best interactive software for K–8 learning is being done by startups using interactivity in innovative ways.

Someone give the man a free Math-Whizz subscription…