Math learning,
researched in the real world.

MIND Education partners with researchers, districts, and educators to understand and improve mathematics learning. We build evidence-based math solutions, continually refined through rigorous spatial-temporal research and classroom impact studies.

25+
Years of research
1.5M+
Students using ST Math
50+
Research resources

Built on evidence,
shaped by classrooms

MIND Education began as a spin-off of the University of California, Irvine with a simple goal: help every student become the best possible math learner. For over two decades, we've built educational math games informed by evidence, shaped by classroom realities, and improved through continuous learning.

We conduct our own studies, collaborate with external researchers, and share findings and publications here. If you're interested in partnering — whether to pursue joint proposals, run experiments, analyze data, or develop new tools — we'd love to work together.

Rigorous inquiry,
real classrooms

From independent evaluations to peer-reviewed cognitive science — our work spans efficacy, implementation, and the learning mechanisms that drive lasting understanding.

ST Math Efficacy Evaluations

Independent WestEd evaluations found positive associations between ST Math usage and state math assessments, with larger gains when implementation was strong.

Includes a California study (grades 2–5) and a cross-state analysis across 16 states (grades 3–5).

Wendt, S., Rice, J., & Nakamoto, J. (2014). Evaluation of the MIND Research Institute's ST Math program in California. WestEd.
Wendt, S., Rice, J., & Nakamoto, J. (2019). A cross-state evaluation of MIND Research Institute's ST Math program and math performance. WestEd.
Implementation and Impact at Scale

Study evaluating ST Math's implementation and impact found that students who increased weekly usage from fall to spring achieved greater math score gains, particularly those with lower initial usage. Overall usage varied widely and was generally below recommendations, with most differences driven by teachers and schools.

Data were collected in 13 school systems across the United States.

Scherer, E., Baloch, S., Fullerton, J. B., Kane, T. J., MacDonough, A. S., Staiger, D. O., Thal, D., & Dahlin, L. (2020). Exploring ST Math's Implementation and Impact: A Report from the Proving Ground Network (pp. 1–6). Center for Education Policy Research, Harvard University.
Embodied Math Learning and Learning Design

Connects embodied cognition research to practical learning design — showing how movement, gesture, and hands-on interaction can strengthen mathematical understanding.

Explores scalable approaches using touch and sensors (e.g., Gyro JiJi, Tap Tempo).

Tran, C., Smith, B., & Buschkuehl, M. (2017). Support of mathematical thinking through embodied cognition: Nondigital and digital approaches. Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications, 2(1), 16.
How Learning Changes: Math Self-Beliefs

In a randomized study, researchers found ST Math improved students' math self-beliefs, and those beliefs were meaningfully connected to achievement.

Effects were strongest for students with lower prior achievement.

Rutherford, T., Liu, A. S., Lam, A. S., & Schenke, K. (2020). Impact on mathematics self-beliefs from a mastery-based mathematics software. Journal of Research on Technology in Education, 52(1), 79–94.

From your first message
to disseminated findings

Here's the shape of a MIND collaboration — seven steps that take a research question from initial inquiry to published, shared findings.

Reach Out

Share your research question, role, and what support you need.

Align on Scope

Short conversation to confirm feasibility and shared goals.

Agreements

NDA, DUA, collaboration SOW, and IRB coordination as needed.

Plan the Work

Define study design, data needs, tooling, and fidelity expectations.

Implement

Launch, monitor, and iterate. Secure data transfer and storage.

Analyze

Collaborate on analysis plans, pre-registration, and interpretation.

Disseminate

Papers, reports, briefs, presentations, and open materials.

Let's ask better questions,
together.

Whether you have a fully formed research proposal or just a curiosity you want to explore, we want to hear from you. Submit a brief interest inquiry to begin the alignment process.