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At Virginia Tech, computers take over teaching math

The Math Emporium is the Wal-Mart of higher education, a triumph in economy of scale and a glimpse at the possible future of computer-led learning. Lessons are self-paced, and instructors are merely roving guides that provide help on demand. Read related story.

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The Virginia Tech Math Emporium is a repurposed department store in a strip mall that is a 15-minute walk or short drive away from campus. The 60,000-square-foot facility is open 24 hours a day and houses 537 computers.

Jared Soares / For The Washington Post

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