--- title: Closing the Experience Gap description: Game-based math instruction offers students the opportunities to have rich and transformative learning experiences. image: https://2024.mindresearch.org/hubfs/Title_I_Learning_Experience_Gap.png --- [![](https://2024.mindresearch.org/hs-fs/hubfs/MIND-logo-2018.jpg?width=1701&height=623&name=MIND-logo-2018.jpg)](http://www.mindresearch.org/) [![mind logo](https://2024.mindresearch.org/hubfs/graphics/logos/MIND-logos-color2.svg)](https://www.mindeducation.org/) [![mind white logo](https://2024.mindresearch.org/hubfs/graphics/logos/MIND-logos-white2.svg)](https://www.mindeducation.org/) - [Our Approach](https://2024.mindresearch.org/our-approach) - [Why MIND?](https://2024.mindresearch.org/why-math-education) - [Our Research](https://2024.mindresearch.org/our-research) - [Our Patents](https://2024.mindresearch.org/patents) - [Our Impact](https://2024.mindresearch.org/impact) - [Our Partners](https://2024.mindresearch.org/partners) - [Partner Stories](https://2024.mindresearch.org/partner-stories) - Our Programs - [ST Math](http://www.stmath.com/) - [InsightMath](http://www.insightmath.com/) - [MathMINDs](https://www.mindresearch.org/mathminds) - [Life at MIND](https://2024.mindresearch.org/careers) - Resources - [Blog](https://2024.mindresearch.org/blog) - [Math Discourse](https://2024.mindresearch.org/puzzletalks) - [Podcast](https://2024.mindresearch.org/edtech-podcast) - [News](https://2024.mindresearch.org/news) - [Activities](https://2024.mindresearch.org/stem-resources) - [Donate](https://store.mindresearch.org/pages/donate) **Student privacy****:** learn more about our commitment to keeping students safe [Read More](https://www.mindresearch.org/privacy-policy) ![MIND-on-Math_Blog-Header-5](https://2024.mindresearch.org/hs-fs/hubfs/graphics/headers/_blog-headers/MIND-on-Math_Blog-Header-5.png?width=2000&height=667&name=MIND-on-Math_Blog-Header-5.png "MIND-on-Math_Blog-Header-5") Category Community Teaching & Learning Technology & Games Research & Outcomes Neuroscience Celebrations & Successes [![Subscribe](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/237516/a35fb57d-2960-4554-a0f3-e7bb5946fc70.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/237516/a35fb57d-2960-4554-a0f3-e7bb5946fc70) [Technology & Games](https://2024.mindresearch.org/blog/topic/technology-games) # Closing the Experience Gap By [Edith Esparza](https://2024.mindresearch.org/blog/author/edith-esparza) - - - - - [mailto:?subject=Closing%20the%20Experience%20Gap&body=Closing%20the%20Experience%20Gap%20https://2024.mindresearch.org/blog/learning-experience-gap](mailto:?subject=Closing%20the%20Experience%20Gap&body=Closing%20the%20Experience%20Gap%20https://2024.mindresearch.org/blog/learning-experience-gap) - The gap we hear about the most is the achievement gap.  Consider, though, that to bridge the achievement gap students need learning experiences that change their perceptions about math and themselves. What if students looked forward to math? What if all students could see themselves as capable and creative problem solvers? Imagine the impact on achievement. ## **Let's Focus on the Experience Gap** To truly make an impact on the the achievement levels of minority and low-income students, we must [worry less about the achievement gap](https://2024.mindresearch.org/blog/achievement-gap) and, instead, focus our efforts on closing the experience gap.  By shifting away from static, rote memorization that takes away from rich mathematical experiences, we have the power to change students' perceptions about math and themselves. Therefore, we must provide various platforms for students to experience math through exploration, playing and learning by doing.  ## **Learning Through Play** [Game-based math instruction](https://2024.mindresearch.org/blog/game-based-learning-vs-gamification) offers students the opportunities to have rich and transformative learning experiences doing what they love to do: play!   A national survey found that [97% of 2-17 year olds play digital games](http://www.pewinternet.org/2008/09/16/teens-video-games-and-civics/). While that includes games made purely for entertainment, we can apply lessons learned from these games to create games that are both educational and engaging. ![Digital Games Laptop](https://2024.mindresearch.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog/Images/laptop-with-statistics-1.png?width=300&name=laptop-with-statistics-1.png) Research shows that [leveraging your students' love for games](http://blog.mindresearch.org/blog/game-based-learning-infographic-strong-math-practices) in the classroom can make them stronger and more creative problem solvers.  Math, specifically, has interesting opportunities to utilize [game-based learning](http://blog.mindresearch.org/blog/game-based-learning-productive-struggle) to guide students deeper in the mathematical thinking and practices described in mathematical standards. ## **Building Self-Motivation** With well-designed learning games, students are intrinsically motivated to keep trying. They persist because they are engaged and [believe they can succeed](http://blog.mindresearch.org/blog/making-educational-games-tantalizingly-tricky) - by design, game levels will get more difficult, but always have a possible solution. As students persevere in problem solving, they develop a belief in themselves that has powerful effects on learning. The benefits of self-motivated learning include: - Confidence in learning - Perseverance in problem solving - Increased learning capacity - Higher achievement ![benefits-self-motivated-learning](https://2024.mindresearch.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog/Images/benefits-self-motivated-learning.png?width=500&name=benefits-self-motivated-learning.png) ## **Closing the Experience Gap Resources** Learn more about how visualizing and experiencing math concepts through game play can guide students at all achievement levels to deeply understand mathematical concepts and thrive in the classroom and beyond.  [Why We Should Worry Less About the "Achievement Gap" (Blog)](https://2024.mindresearch.org/blog/achievement-gap) Instead of worrying about the outcome - the achievement gap - we should work to improve the root of the problem: the experience gap. Insights from a mathematician. [The Experience Gap and Informal Learning (Podcast)](https://2024.mindresearch.org/blog/experience-gap-learning) MIND Research Institute’s Lead Mathematician Brandon Smith joins Brian LeTendre, host of the Inside Our MINDs podcast, to talk about the experience gap,  informal learning and designing experiences that build culture and a relationship with math. [![Closing_the_Learning_Experience_Gap](https://2024.mindresearch.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Closing_the_Learning_Experience_Gap.png?width=280&name=Closing_the_Learning_Experience_Gap.png)](https://2024.mindresearch.org/hubfs/Operations/Collateral/Specialty%20Topics/Title1_EP-GN-133_Web.pdf)  Closing the Learning Experience Gap | [Download PDF>>](https://2024.mindresearch.org/hubfs/Operations/Collateral/Specialty%20Topics/Title1_EP-GN-133_Web.pdf) ## **ST Math Provides Students with Transformative Learning Experiences** Did you know that, two-thirds of ST Math schools have Title I schoolwide programs and schools using ST Math® have doubled and tripled their growth in [math proficiency](https://www.stmath.com/impact/results)? [ST Math](https://www.stmath.com/) is a PreK-8 visual instructional program that leverages the brain's innate spatial-temporal reasoning ability to solve mathematical problems. Its learning model is built upon a unique and patented approach that uses challenging puzzles, non-routine problem solving, and informative feedback to provide students with more equitable access to [deep conceptual learning](https://www.stmath.com/conceptual-understanding). [![Learn More About ST Math](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/237516/33e20cb0-1a2a-46d2-8f8d-328ee7266dbd.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/237516/33e20cb0-1a2a-46d2-8f8d-328ee7266dbd) ![Edith Esparza](https://2024.mindresearch.org/hubfs/Edith%20Esparza%20Headshot.jpg) ### About the Author Edith Esparza is the Marketing Specialist at MIND and loves sharing her passion for learning. ### Comment #### [Game-based Learning vs Gamification: What’s the Difference?](https://2024.mindresearch.org/blog/game-based-learning-vs-gamification) [Seeing Our Core Values In Our MIND Colleagues](https://2024.mindresearch.org/blog/seeing-our-core-values-in-our-mind-colleagues) ### Search Result By: ![feature image](https://2024.mindresearch.org/hubfs/Blog/Images/Inside-our-Minds-logo-teal-800x800.png) [Featured Podcast](https://2024.mindresearch.org/blog/topic/featured-podcast) ### [Rethinking Attendance in Edtech](https://2024.mindresearch.org/blog/rethinking-attendance-in-edtech) [Listen Now](https://2024.mindresearch.org/blog/rethinking-attendance-in-edtech) ##### LATEST PODCAST EPISODES ###### BY MIND RESEARCH INSTITUTE - [Rethinking Attendance in Edtech](https://2024.mindresearch.org/blog/rethinking-attendance-in-edtech) - [People, Process, and Penguins: Designing Math Experiences](https://2024.mindresearch.org/blog/people-process-penguins) - [Bridging STEM Gaps with STEMconnector CEO Jo Webber](https://2024.mindresearch.org/blog/bridging-stem-gaps-with-stemconnector-ceo-jo-webber) - [The EdTech Genome Project: Talking Implementation with Elizabeth Birie](https://2024.mindresearch.org/blog/edtech-genome-project) - [From Meeting the Moment to Foundational Change](https://2024.mindresearch.org/blog/from-meeting-the-moment-to-foundational-change) ##### [See all podcasts](https://www.mindresearch.org/edtech-podcast) ## Interested in Contributing? 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