In 2006 engineering professors at the University of New South Wales created a series of adaptive tutorials [which were the genesis of the Smart Sparrow adapted learning system] to teach threshold concepts in engineering mechanics, such as stress and strain, friction in machines, and shear force. They found that many students struggle with these concepts and therefore fail to engage in higher level problem solving tasks and more in-depth learning. In most Australian engineering schools the failure rates for engineering mechanics courses are nearly 50%. The adapted tutorials were most effective in assisting these at-risk students, which is demonstrated by the reduction in failure rates from over 30% in 2006 to under 10% in 2010 There was also an improvement in students achieving distinction ( B grade), and high distinction (A grade) (Prusty & Russell, 2011).