RebeccaLPatterson

Dream Realizations, an educational support services nonprofit, has been designing far-reaching mathematical remediation content corroborated by recent independent neurological findings and immersive educational research. Traditionally, the numeric symbols are introduced along with the alphabet. We believe that the introduction of numeric symbols is premature and prevents children from seeing the patterns that various numbers make. Furthermore, this early introduction prevents seeing the beautiful metapatterns of polynomials, which are easily recognized when various quantities are represented in different base systems: subQuanned. Our own research is showing that 100% of all participants are capable of subQuanning (the instantaneous perception of very large quantities). We also believe the metapatterns of recognizing polynomial structures, enhanced by subQuanning, will also occur in 100% of all participants. We are currently in the design and programming phase of novel math curriculum required to facilitate in-depth, rapid learning via 3D visualization in virtual worlds. Our world is Second Life. Although traditional methods of math instruction are just as viable virtually as they are physically, there is a plethora of innovative methods only possible in a virtual world. Second Life allows us to bypass the constrictions of space, time, materials, and gravity in physical space. Can you imagine a classroom of students building numbers with thousands of centimeter cubes each? We teach and examine very large quantities in subQuan as Segs, Squares, Cubes, Segs of Cubes, etc. This ability to recognize metapatterns instantly in multiple large quantities lays the foundation for polynomials and calculus. That's the forest before the trees or math at the 10,000 foot level interconnecting recognizing numbers (pre-school) to seeing metapatterns (Algebra) to deriving equations (Calculus) all in a very short span of time. Only in Second Life! Right now: We also use this space for the prototyping of many other programming possibilities like iApps, web designs, and we are currently developing a fully immersive environment that allows a learner to walk through our whole curriculum taught by sQ's in an alien environment. Second Life rocks! In development: