Why MathVIDS Was Developed/Underlying Assumptions

A number of factors have led to the development of MathVIDS. The factors listed below represent the foundation for why MathVIDS was developed:

1. There are a significant number of students who are experiencing difficulty learning critical mathematics concepts and skills as measured by various standardized assessment instruments;

2. Students who have difficulty learning mathematics can benefit from research-supported mathematics instructional practices for students who have mathematics learning difficulties whether they have identified disabilities or not;

3. A significant number of teachers who are working with these students need assistance in learning and acquiring these research-supported strategies;

4. An interactive website, that incorporates text, digital pictures, audio, and digital video of teachers implementing effective instructional strategies, can be an effective way to provide assistance to teachers;

5. An interactive online professional development resource provides individual teachers, teacher teams, schools, and school districts flexibility in accessing information and strategies specific to the needs of their students and their teachers.