Learner Variability is a belief that individual student experiences and abilities shape how they engage in the classroom. This asset-based model is part of CueThink’s fundamental mission, and we are delighted to continue to enhance the learning experience for all students as a recipient of Digital Promise’s Learner Variability Project (LVP) Initiative Grant. 

As part of this grant, we will be building and evaluating new features to further support students’ independence and confidence in math problem-solving. Each new feature will be aligned with a strategy for use in the classroom, as well as a   They include:

New whiteboard tools that allow students to show and explain their work via more detailed and sophisticated visual representations. 

Currently, in the CueThink application, the Solve Phase contains a selection of tools like multi-color pen, highlighter, text, and table along with math-specific tools such as array, number bond, number line, diagrams (part-part-whole, base 10) and equation editor to help students express their thinking. CueThink is using the funds to build new tools like the fraction bar, unifix cubes, graph paper and algebra tiles to give learners additional choice in creating and communicating their math solutions, by expanding the palette of visual representations for all learners. This development effort aligns with the LVP’s Creating Visual Representation strategy and supports Mathematical Flexibility. 

Embedded questions and prompts in the 4 phases to help students build meta-cognition skills and improve their access to the problems.

Currently, in the CueThink application, the 4 phases of problem-solving provide a valuable structure and framework for students’ critical thinking process. However, students will benefit from additional guidance to activate prior knowledge and overcome barriers to the task. CueThink is using the funds to build metacognitive supports to help problem solvers maintain an awareness of what decisions they are making and why they are making them. The supports also teach students how to regulate metacognitive processes. This in turn increases their confidence so they can become more self directed in tackling complex and rigorous problems. 

This development effort aligns with the LVP’s Guided Inquiry strategy and supports Mathematical Mindset. 

Integrated text-to-speech support to help students with decoding the math problem.

CueThink is using the funds to make the experience more seamless, by building the feature right into the application, so that complex words and phrases in the problem can be read out loud at the click of a button, thus improving access.  Currently, the CueThink application has implemented the principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) in a number of ways. Students not only use visuals to show their solution, but also use an alternate representation, like their voice, to communicate their ideas. However, users have to install their own text-to-speech (TTS) plug-ins within their browser of choice, if they want to have the problem read out loud. 

This development effort aligns with the LVP’s Rich Resources strategy of the LVP and supports Mathematical Flexibility. 

While we do this work, we will be gathering feedback from current active users, in order to make sure the features are easy to use and effective in providing additional scaffolds and guidance for students. We are excited to introduce these new features this Fall and Winter. We also plan to disseminate the results of our formative analysis to various stakeholders, including current and prospective customers, partners and thought-leaders. Stay tuned for an upcoming announcement when the features are ready for release.