Open Competition - Information Technology (October 2000)

Interactive Software For Cognitive Skill Development

Sponsor: Lexia Learning Systems, Inc.

• Project Performance Period: 4/1/2001 - 3/31/2004
• Total project (est.): $2,690,038.00
• Requested ATP funds: $2,000,000.00

Lexia Learning Systems, Inc. seeks to build a radically different series of educational software programs that are designed to increase the cognitive ability of the user. This research is guided by recent advances in the cognitive-neurosciences that demonstrate that to a significant degree humans actively participate in the construction of their own cognitive abilities and that these abilities are far more plastic than previous believed. These advances point to the development of higher-order cognitive abilities through active problem solving. In order to leverage these scientific advances for the purpose of creating educational software that increases intelligence, Lexia will need to integrate a series of advanced technologies that are not commonly used in educational technology -- especially with young children. Sophisticated computer simulation techniques, voice-recognition technology, virtual 3-D environments, and bi-handed controllers will need to be integrated into a system that can be reliable operated by young children and at the same time affordable for educational budgetary constraints. Lexia will attempt to adapt these existing advanced technologies to in order to produce a "Virtual Cognitive Tutor" that can guide the user through a program of cognitive challenges designed to improve intelligence, academic achievement, and job performance. Lexia argues that the vast majority of today's educational computer programs concentrate on transferring specific knowledge -- facts -- to the student. Few are concerned with the underlying thinking abilities that help children learn. The planned software will develop the student's visual-spatial abilities (essential to the sciences), logical reasoning (crucial to mathematics and general comprehension), receptive and expressive communication (for social interactions) and auditory imaging (fundamental to language use). Lexia will also attempt to integrate biofeedback techniques to improve concentration and listening skills. If successful, Lexia's work will enable a wholly new class of educational and training software that directly addresses fundamental thinking and learning skills. As society -and the average job -- becomes more complex, such skills are increasingly necessary. In education alone, better cognitive skills are directly related to better learning efficiency by as much as 5 percent or more -- and a mere half-percent of improvement in efficiency is worth an estimated $3 billion a year to the nation's economy.

For project information:

Heidi Brown, (781) 259-8752
hbrown@lexialearning.com

ATP Project Manager

Barbara Cuthill, (301) 975-3273
barbara.cuthill@nist.gov