Research -- StepUp to Learn

Why Our Brains Miss Opportunities to Improve Through Subtraction

Why Our Brains Miss Opportunities to Improve Through Subtraction

A new study explains why people rarely look at a situation, object or idea that needs improving -- in all kinds of contexts -- and think to remove something as a solution. Instead, we almost always add some element, whether it helps or not.

Puzzle Games Can Improve Mental Flexibility

Puzzle Games Can Improve Mental Flexibility

Puzzle video games show broad improvement to executive functions, which are important for general intelligence, dealing with new situations and managing multitasking.

Paper Notebooks vs. Mobile Devices

Paper Notebooks vs. Mobile Devices

Unique, complex information in analog methods likely gives brain more details to trigger memory.

Solving the Screen Time Puzzle

Solving the Screen Time Puzzle

Contradictory to previous findings, children who learn how to solve a puzzle using a touchscreen can then apply this learning to the same puzzle in the physical world. 

Worth it? How the Brain Decides to Make an Effort

Worth it? How the Brain Decides to Make an Effort

A new understanding of motivation: How your brain weighs the costs versus the benefits of making a physical effort.

Heavy TV and Computer Use Impacts Children’s Academic Results

Heavy TV and Computer Use Impacts Children’s Academic Results

A new study reveals an association between heavy television use and poorer reading performance, as well as, between heavy computer use and poorer numeracy.

Using LEGO to Test Children's Ability to Visualize and Rotate 3D Shapes in Space

Using LEGO to Test Children's Ability to Visualize and Rotate 3D Shapes in Space

Spatial visualization is the ability to visualize 3D shapes in one’s mind, which is tied to increased GPAs and graduation rates in STEM.

Getting Kids Moving: Home Tennis Keeps Kids Active, and Learning

Getting Kids Moving: Home Tennis Keeps Kids Active, and Learning

Games-making is designed to encourage students to create their own tennis games using various equipment from around their home environment, getting kids to move more, improve their skills, and come up with their own creative tennis games. 

A Smart Jump­suit Provides In­for­ma­tion on In­fants’ Move­ment and De­vel­op­ment

A Smart Jump­suit Provides In­for­ma­tion on In­fants’ Move­ment and De­vel­op­ment

A new innovation makes it possible, for the first time, to quantitatively assess children’s spontaneous movement in the natural environment.

Rethinking Role of Technology in the Classroom

Rethinking Role of Technology in the Classroom

Study finds added access can lead to decrease in students' academic motivation. Engagement "is more than a matter of providing children with access to the latest electronic devices."

Colored filter improves dyslexic children's reading speed

Colored filter improves dyslexic children's reading speed

Reading, one of the most difficult activities for children with dyslexia, can be improved by the use of a colored filter.

Kids connect with robot reading partners

Kids connect with robot reading partners

Kids learn better with a friend. They’re more enthusiastic and understand more if they dig into a subject with a companion. But what if that companion is artificial?