Mem-ExSpan: Education - Student Benefits The Bridge To Achievement ® Advantage General intelligence, is a relative indicator of how well a person can learn new information and perform daily tasks. Experts convey there are many types of mental abilities. Intelligence is dependent upon the subject's ability to quickly and accurately process and understand information via visual and auditory pathways. Understanding depends on the ability to retain enough "chunks" of information in short-term memory, long enough, to make sense of it, to act on it, and finally to commit it to long-term memory. Low level information processing skills, also known as cognitive skills, are measurable and trainable. Outcome-based results are outstanding with + 3 to + 4 years academic achievement growth in reading, science, language arts, social science, and math in a single years time. (+ 1 to + 1 1/2 years growth beyond what the teachers normally obtained. See JALT Fall 1999) Information processing skills may be prescriptively assessed by a qualified measurement professional using standardized tests such as subtests of the Detroit Tests of Learning Aptitude and the Woodcock-Johnson Psycho-Educational Battery. Cognitive skills may be enhanced through specific training processes. School instructional content is not designed to develop information processing skills. Traditional remedial instruction is not designed to develop information processing skills. Most people have some weakness in their cognitive information processing skills and may not be aware of weaknesses. The Bridge To Achievement (BTA)® Training is designed to develop information processing skills and memory. The BTA training is applicable to people ages 9 through 99. The BTA ® training results are measured using standardized tests. Results are persistent. Less able students learn to process information more accurately and obtain further academic benefits by repeating The BTA ® training. The BTA ® classes are conducted by in-service teaching staff. Required staff training and startup consulting support is available. The BTA ® Program Benefits: Visible results using nationally standardized tests Improve reading skills without additional remedial reading instruction Improve mathematics skill without additional remedial math instruction Improve numerical precision and mental calculating ability Improve listening skills Improve accuracy of short-term visual memory Improve ability to follow oral instruction Improve ability for accuracy for detail in written work Improve visual pattern recognition and visual closure Improve visualization skills Improve short-term verbal memory for detail Improve accuracy of short-term verbal memory Improve identification of spoken word endings Improve sense of directionality (and handwriting often improves) Improve ability to translate from verbal to visual memory representation Increase ability to remember information through interruptions Increase student's overall ability Student Perspective: Visible results using nationally standardized achievement tests The Student: Feels more successful and likes going to school Able to learn more in less time, with more independence Able to complete assignments quickly Able to learn more in a traditional classroom Develops improved confidence and self esteem Able to become more successful in college Performs better on tests of subject matter knowledge Able to focus and work through interruptions and distractions Remembers and applies strategies for processing and organizing information Parental Perspective: Student attitudes toward school improve Homework is completed with less urging and assistance Student's grades improve The classroom teacher receives more respect and credit Perceive more value being received from the school Less worry that student is falling behind college or technical school entrance requirements Less concern that student is not in step with technological demands School Perspective: Visible results using nationally standardized tests Students become more resourceful and independent Students become more successful and optimistic about education Fewer discipline problems Reduction in the student drop-out rate Reduce student reading impairments Reduce student learning disabilities, ADHD Reduce remedial instruction requirements Simplify student scheduling Increase success with main-lining the special needs students Allow more education resources to be directed to the most needy students Make the job of classroom teachers more manageable and less stressful Improve overall Nationally Standardized Achievement Test results Raise overall student ACT and SAT scores Raise the school ranking at the district, state and national levels Student/Cost Analysis: Increase the educational return (student learning) on investment (dollars spent on students) Increase parental satisfaction with school and student performance More scholarships, grants and other student aid received by graduates Increase completion rate of post-secondary education Reduce requirement for college-level remedial courses Increase competitiveness of the school Societal Perspective: Visible results using nationally standardized tests Develop higher skilled work force Workers become more flexible in the work they can do Workers make fewer mistakes Workers have more self confidence and self respect Businesses may spend less on basic skills remedial education Workers become easier to retrain for changing job needs More people enter professional careers Fewer people become or remain dependent upon social services Fewer people become clients of the criminal justice system Ratio of social services independent versus dependent citizens moves toward independence and autonomy The cost of government services for unemployed and unemployable lower Business unemployment insurance costs decrease Public attitude toward education is improved as student test scores increase More people apply Life-Long Learning by use of libraries, community, and university education options GO BACK TO HOME PAGE Jan Kuyper Erland, M. S. Intervention Consultant Mem-ExSpan, Inc. The Bridge To Achievement ® Tel:  785-749-5402 email: jan@memspan.com www.memspan.com