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The University of Florida’s Lastinger Center for Learning announced last week that Microsoft U.S. provided almost $1 million in funding to enhance its digital platform, Math Nation, to also serve elementary students preparing for middle school.

In response to the swift transition to distance learning due to COVID-19, the platform was made free to any school in the country through August 31, 2020, providing 24-hour access to thousands of free instructional videos and on-demand support for middle and high school mathematics. With this additional funding, Math Nation developers will build adaptive learning tools aimed at helping students prepare for the rigor of secondary mathematics.

“We care about students and their access to high-quality instructional materials,” said Dr. Philip Poekert, the director of the Lastinger Center. “During these extraordinary times, it is critical to keep students learning and mastering mathematics. We are grateful to Microsoft for their generous support to build additional resources and serve more students.”

Math Nation provides a comprehensive digital textbook for middle grades math (6-8), Algebra 1, Geometry, and Algebra 2 courses as well as PSAT and SAT preparation materials. The platform includes more than 5,000 engaging instructional videos led by dynamic virtual co-teachers, real-time assessment tools, and live help from experts. Built with accessibility in mind, Math Nation is also mobile-friendly. Even students with limited access to broadband can still take advantage of Math Nation by downloading videos to watch offline.

Microsoft recognizes the Lastinger Center as a national leader developing high-impact, technology-enabled educational supports for teachers and students. The $900,000 in funding enables developers to build an adaptive learning tool focused on preparing students for success in the middle grades.

“Too often, students in elementary and middle school reach a point where they become discouraged and intimidated by mathematics,” said Kate Johnson, the president of Microsoft U.S. “At a time when teachers are relying more than ever on innovative technologies to bring their lessons to life, providing these students with the tools and resources they need to be successful is of the utmost importance. The University of Florida’s commitment to providing Math Nation for no cost to any school will help students across the nation continue to receive the high-quality math education they need and deserve.”

The new OnRamp to Middle Grades supported by Microsoft will diagnose and remediate critical K-5 grade mathematics concepts and skills using an adaptive diagnostic assessment. This information is used to place each student on their own personalized learning path. Student data will be provided to teachers in real time so that they can quickly identify topics on which to remediate at both the individual and classroom levels. The startup diagnostic tool pilot begins this summer, with refinements and further development expected to be complete by summer 2021.

Housed within the College of Education, the Lastinger Center is a national leader in the design, delivery, and scaling of technology-enabled educational systems to transform teaching and learning. Focused on critical milestones of kindergarten preparedness, third grade reading proficiency, and ninth grade algebraic proficiency, the Lastinger Center envisions a world where every child and educator, regardless of circumstances, experiences high-quality learning every day. Since its founding in 2002, it’s leveraged private and public funding to develop high-impact programs, including Early Learning Florida, the Literacy Matrix, and Math Nation.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) — With Math Nation — also referred to by its original name, Algebra Nation– students can learn through interactive, customized, and standard-aligned lessons. The program is used by teachers and students across the country. You can find customized lessons and curriculums based on your state’s standards.

Phil Poekert, Director of Lastinger Center for Learning at UF, says they made the program free to help everyone involved.

“This is a time when a lot of us feel very helpless and unable to do things. A way to show we care is typically to show up for each other and when you can’t show up … making these resources available is the little support we can offer to help kids during this really challenging time,” Poekert said.

Plus, students aren’t the only ones benefiting from the online tool. Every year, over 20,000 teachers use it too.

Fran Diven has been teaching in Florida schools since 1990. Diven began using Math Nation when it was first created back in 2013. She says having the supplemental material helps to keep her students focused and interested.

“With all the videos and technology and games they play online, it’s hard for kids to really engage for fifty minutes with just a teacher standing in front of them,” Diven said.

Math Nation will be free through the end of August to support students finishing out the school year and getting ready for the next. Sign up by visiting their website www.mathnation.com.

In the January 2019 edition of PCS Journal with Al Ruechel, Dr. Connie Kolosey talks about the new Personalized Learning website for students, featuring Algebra Nation.

Andrew Jackson getting algebra application as tool to improve test scores

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Every student in Florida has to pass an Algebra One end-of-course exam to graduate high school, but some struggle with the test.

Statewide last year, only 59 percent of students passed the test the first time they took it.  And the later in high school they took the class, the more they struggled with it.

To turn that around, the University of Florida and a Gainesville- based group called Study Edge, came together to build a free online prep resource called Algebra Nation.

At Andrew Jackson High School on Main Street, the Florida Education Commissioner and Florida State Board of Education Chairman will be at the school Monday talking about Algebra Nation with students who are already using the algebra nation application.

Two algebra teachers from Andrew Jackson were actually hand-picked to help launch the groundbreaking tool.

Sabrina Hall teaches Algebra 1 at Andrew Jackson.  In just 60 days her students take the all-important, state-required exam.

“The kid can make all As in the algebra class, and that’s great for your GPA,” Hall said. “Unfortunately, Algebra 1 is a graduation requirement, and if the students do not pass the end-of-course, they do not get the credit.”

But now, the innovative new Algebra Nation app could help solve this problem.

Since January, Hall has had access to the brand new tool.

“I cannot say enough great things about how awesome this is and it’s free!” said Hall, pictured, right, with some of her students.

Algebra Nation gives students 24/7 online access to help. Interactive videos walk them through solving the problem and a “wall” like on Facebook, allows students to post questions for teachers and classmates can answer.

“Students can go online and help other kids. They get these things called karma points and so our kids are really competitive and they’re trying to help as many kids as possible,” Hall said. It’s awesome because now not only did I learn it in class, but I’m teaching it to someone else and that is going to help them hold onto that knowledge.”

It’s knowledge that will be tested in 60 days and Hall only hopes it supplements her students’ scores.

“My goal is to hope students will take advantage of this and we see more homework being completed, more kids asking questions when they come or at least now, being willing to raise their hand and answer some questions,” Hall said.

The free app launched in January and is already being used by 4,000 students in about 600 schools.

The tool  officially launched Monday morning at Andrew Jackson at an event attended by Florida Board of Education Commissioner Tony Bennett, Duval County School Superintendent Nikolia Vitti and Jacksonville Mayor Alvin Brown.

Officials hope that the event will help get the word out and encourage more teachers to use Algebra Nation for test prep in their classrooms.

An alumnus of Spanish River High School gets “rock star” treatment when he visits math students in Palm Beach County District schools. That’s because he is a star… on Math Nation, an interactive program used by students throughout the district to reinforce math skills.

Atlantic High junior Jackson Destine loves to rap. And he apparently also loves “Math Nation,” a free math-tutoring software tool created by the University of Florida’s Lastinger Center for Learning.

Destine was so pleased with how it helped his improvement in math class that his teacher suggested he write a song about the program.

Destine went above and beyond. Not only did he pen a rap song about the math-tutoring program in a day, he performed it at Wednesday’s school board meeting.

“This is a story about how Math Nation really helps students go from an F grade to an A grade,” he said by way of presentation.

CRESTVIEW — More than 500 students in Crestview High School’s gymnasium bleachers screamed, applauded and whistled when four celebrities entered the room.

These were the stars of “Algebra Nation,” a free University of Florida tutoring website.

Yes; teenagers went wild over math teachers.

After challenging Darnell Boursiquot, Zach Stepp and Amy Adams to a push-ups competition, scores of kids mobbed them, and fellow tutor Rachelle Felix, to take selfies and beg for autographs.

Teachers and students praised Algebra Nation for simplifying mathematics and making the subject exciting.

“We use it in our classes,” CHS math teacher Sandi Bufkin said. “We love Darnell.”

“Darnell’s our math rock star,” teacher Miranda Del Pozo said.

“He explains his stuff really nicely,” sophomore Gracie Gillis said.

“And he does it in ways we can understand,” her classmate, Amiah Banks, said.

“He’s very specific in his teaching,” David Feducia, also a sophomore, said. “He makes sense. He’s cool and chill.”

“Math is really exciting. It takes you a lot of places,” Boursiquot said. “If you’re really good at math, you can go any place you want, honestly.”

Algebra Nation tutors made half-hour stops Thursday at Davidson Middle School, Crestview High, Laurel Hill School, Baker School and Shoal River Middle School.

Their visits coincided with preparations for state tests, Okaloosa County School District math coach Stephanie Thetford said.

“Algebra Nation is another platform that teachers use in algebra I and II and geometry to help them prepare for end-of-course exams,” she said.

“It gets the kids fired up for their exams,” district spokesman Henry Kelley said.

Algebra and Geometry students at Davidson Middle School were separated into teams aligning with the Avengers theme to participate in half-day Boot Camp activities where they worked as a team to conquer the standards associated with their corresponding EOC the following week.

Algebra students took the first part of the day completing four different stations to go along with their four different Avenger teams – Thor, Captain America, Falcon, and Hulk. Each team worked hard at every station to not only earn points towards their teams total but to also review and deepen their understanding of the standards.

During the lunch session, Math Nation member, Chelsea, joined the Davidson family and also surprised students with a Skype session where Zach and Darnell allowed students to ask them questions and encouraged students to do their best on the EOC. The students also celebrated Ivan Acosta for winning an iPad and Apple Pencil from Math Nation.

Following the incredible presentation and lunch session, Geometry students returned to their time for Boot Camp activities under the team names of Spiderman and Dr. Strange. The students worked hard on their Geometry skills while also helping build one another up and working to earn the most points for their team. Each team may have been trying to earn the most points by the end of the day, but together they made the Avengers for a day and worked incredibly hard to review for their EOC.  

Visit the OCSD Facebook page to see a complete photo gallery of this event.