The MIND Research Institute of Santa Ana, CA has developed software educational products, based on neuroscience research, to teach math based on spatial-temporal reasoning -– "thinking in pictures" as co-founder and chief technology officer, Dr. Matthew Peterson would say. For those of us who have been learning how to use web-based technology through the Teach Yourself –- Visually series of books over the past 10 years know exactly why this program is succeeding. It’s natural!

Dr. Peterson co-developed the teaching products with Dr. Gordon Shaw, who founded the Institute in 1998, and whose 30 years of scientific research at the University of California, Irvine, CA provided the foundation for their revolutionary Math+Music curricula. Dr. Shaw’s vision was to teach "all kids, regardless of cultural and socio-economic background, how to think, reason and create mathematically." Dr. Shaw passed away in April 2005.

According to a recent LA Times article, the Orange County Department of Education and members of the private sector raised $1.1 million to use the product at 64 elementary and middle schools with 15,000 students. That comes to about $73 per student. The results were a 12% increase in math proficiency compared to an average of only 4.5% improvement statewide.

"Innovative math program boosts scores at O.C. schools" by Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, September 15, 2009

LA Times.com.

MIND Institute press release.