Numeracy and literacy go hand in hand. In an increasingly technology-driven and statistically mediated world, the ability to work with numbers and mathematical concepts is a prerequisite for success in a broad range of occupations. Yet many students struggle in conventional mathematics programs that have not kept pace with the latest advances in learning research and interactive, computer-aided instruction. Changing the way these students learn can make all the difference in ensuring that they have the numeric skills they need to prosper in the 21st century economy.

Mathematics Courseware That Engages as It Teaches

Following a multiyear engagement, the Cisco Foundation in November 2007 awarded a $500,000 cash grant to MIND Research Institute, a nonprofit organization dedicated to transforming brain and learning research into applied education programs for elementary and secondary school students. This was in addition to a grant of Cisco equipment worth $518,000 in August 2007. MIND uses a distinctive spatial/temporal (ST) approach to teaching mathematics concepts and building problem-solving skills that has proven effective in building a solid mathematics foundation for students at all levels of academic achievement.

Based on more than 30 years of neuroscience and education research at the University of California, MIND’s ST Math courseware uses a programmed sequence of games and visual cues to engage the students’ interest and develop and strengthen their reasoning abilities, enabling them to understand and solve multistep problems. The ST Math courseware is now being used by more than 55,000 students in over 280 schools in 15 states.

Before a sampling of schools in California started the ST Math program, 31 percent of their students scored at the Proficient or Advanced levels on the mathematics part of the California Standards Test that all students in the state must take. After participating in the MIND program, 46 percent of the students in these schools scored at those levels in 2006, and the performance climbed to 51 percent in 2007.

MIND has extended its courseware offerings to include an e-learning tool for middle school and high school students called Algebra Readiness that the educational journal Multimedia & Internet@Schools said “will definitely help to close the achievement gap for our struggling math learners.”

How Cisco Is Making a Difference

Cisco’s grant will assist MIND in further expanding its programs. Specifically, MIND has converted its programs to a web-based platform, which should dramatically increase the number of students and teachers who are able to take advantage of the curriculum. MIND also intends to integrate more collaborative technologies into the software, including message boards, video guides, and professional development materials. A beta release of new courseware is expected to be ready for the 2008–2009 school year.