SBIR Phase I: Development of a Media-Rich, Game-Based Social Learning Paradigm for Improving Math Process Skills Both Inside and Outside the Classroom

这个小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第一阶段项目提案探索了一种使用基于游戏的对等移动学习平台来提高数学问题解决技能的创新方法。如今，数学教育在美国举步维艰。到我们的学生上中学的时候，他们中的许多人已经脱离了数学，甚至害怕数学。研究表明，学校往往强调低层次的程序，而不是高层次的解决问题的技能，学生接受的是自上而下、一刀切的教学方法。然而，学生需要自己的策略和技术来解决问题，需要机会分享这些过程并获得有效的反馈。在第一阶段，该公司将制作一个移动版本的社交学习平台的原型，支持6-8年级学生对代数预科主题的思考和学习过程。该平台的核心是对学生思维过程的多媒体片段进行脚手架的创作、策划和评估。第一阶段的研究将集中于评估这种方法和概念框架，并开发将固有的定性信息转换为可测量和可操作的数据所需的数据挖掘算法。该项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力为改变数学教育和课堂内外的参与提供了巨大的前景。CueThink平台应该帮助学生培养解决复杂问题的信心和技能，通过审查其他学生的作业来改进他们的数学交流和提高他们的元认知，并为教师提供多种学习方式和典型的学生错误和误解的真实例子。这使CueThink能够利用学校课堂内外在线数学教学技术的巨大市场机会-5年内市场价值24亿美元。此外，该团队还为他们在特殊教育和高等教育STEM学习方面的解决方案确定了可移植的机会，这两者都应该会产生强大的积极社会影响，同时通过新市场提供巨大的扩大潜力。该公司团队将教育、技术和商业技能的多样化组合带到谈判桌上，这将是拟议中的数学教育创新成功商业化的关键。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project proposal explores an innovative approach to improving math problem solving skills using a game-based peer-to-peer mobile learning platform. Mathematics education is struggling in the U.S today. By the time our students reach middle school, many of them are already disengaged with and even afraid of mathematics. Research shows that schools often emphasize low-level procedures over higher order problem-solving skills and learners are taught using a top-down, one-strategy-fits-all approach. However, students bring their own strategies and techniques to problem solving and need opportunities to share these processes and get effective feedback. In Phase I, the firm will prototype a mobile version of a social learning platform that supports a student's thinking and learning process for pre-algebra topics in grades 6-8. The core of the platform is the scaffolded creation, curation and evaluation of multimedia vignettes of a student's thought process. The Phase I research will focus on evaluating this approach and concept framework and developing data mining algorithms required to convert inherently qualitative information into measurable and actionable data.The broader impact/commercial potential of this project offers tremendous promise for changing math education and engagement both in and out of the classroom. The CueThink platform should help students develop confidence and skills in solving complex problems, refine their math communication and improve their meta-cognition through the review of other students work and equip teachers with real-world examples of multiple learning styles and typical student errors and misconceptions. This enables CueThink to harness a substantial market opportunity for online instructional technology for math both inside and outside the school classroom - $2.4 billion market in 5 years. In addition, the team has identified portable opportunities for their solution in special education and higher education STEM learning, both of which should have a strong positive social impact while offering a huge scale-up potential via new markets. The company team brings to the table a diverse mix of educational, technical and business skills that will be critical to successful commercialization of the proposed math education innovation.