Medford Area Elementary and Somerset Academy St. Lucie

Classrooms are busy places - and oftentimes filled with noise and other interruptions that have the potential to distract even the most focused of students. When it comes to math, focused learning and practice time is especially important.

To support this need, educators Scott Woller (Medford Elementary) and Chloe CancioBello-Pena (Somerset Academy) sought to further immerse students during independent math practice by addressing two critical areas: 1) Classroom Distractions and Noise and 2) Navigation and Usability Challenges.

Classrooms are naturally dynamic spaces, but without headsets, managing background noise became a persistent struggle. Research shows that poor audio quality has a direct negative impact on student engagement.Gustafson, T. J., Au.D. (2011, November 11). Dual Task Performance of School Age Children: Listening in Noise [PPT]. Lubbock: Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences “They tend to talk and get distracted by each other a lot,” said Chloe CancioBello-Pena. Students often found it difficult to concentrate with classmates talking, moving around, or engaging in off-task behaviors.

Students also experienced frustration when using laptop trackpads for navigation with learning apps. “The trackpad can be a beast for some students,” said Scott Woller. Young learners who are still developing their fine motor skills can be slow and make more errors with the trackpad than with a mouse. Hertzum, Morten & Hornbæk, Kasper. (2010). How Age Affects Pointing With Mouse and Touchpad: A Comparison of Young, Adult, and Elderly Users. Int. J. Hum. Comput.Interaction. 26. 703-734 This can break the flow of learning, and affect overall motivation.

With swappable and upgradable over-ear and on-ear pads and three different input options (3.5 mm AUX, USB-A, and USB-C cables), Zone Learn seamlessly integrates into every school’s technological ecosystem and provides a longer lifespan in the classroom, which is better for the environment and schools’ bottom lines.

Feeling like a Pro Gamer

Just as professional gamers rely on specialized gear for peak performance, students with the right tools thrive in a tech-driven learning environment, and a new “math pro” persona  is born. 75% of students reported higher enjoyment levels and 70% of 2nd graders felt more confident in Prodigy Math with the headset and mouse, than without the tools. “The mouse makes it easier to click on answers quickly, which helps me feel better about math, “ said a 2nd grade student. Other students commented on how they felt, sharing “I look cool” and one even compared how they felt to a famous gamer: “I feel like Ninja now.”

With the right tools, students feel valued, and recognized and the effect is tangible. “The kids really were able to immerse themselves,” said Scott Woller. Much like gamers gearing up for competitive play, with the headsets and mice, students began to see themselves as capable “math pros” fostering confidence and commitment.