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The Prentice School

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What is Mind Masters?

 

 

The Prentice School has developed a partnership with the Institute for Child Development & Family Relations at Cal State San Bernardino to establish our campus as a site for their renowned working memory research project.  At Prentice, we’re referring to this research as our “Mind Masters” program.

Dr. Eugene Wong at Cal State San Bernardino has been leading a study on cognitive training and its impact on Prentice students' working memory, processing speed, and cognitive flexibility. Mind Masters is a 20-minute daily regimen integrated into the school year; the program is designed to enhance the cognitive abilities mentioned above that are essential to strong academic performance. What sets the Mind Masters program apart from other educational support strategies is its implementation within the school day, making it accessible to all students.

Traditionally, Computerized Cognitive Training (CCT) studies have been conducted outside of the school setting, limiting their reach and effectiveness for students who could benefit the most. Dr. Wong's project, however, breaks new ground by seamlessly integrating CCT into the academic curriculum. The results speak volumes: improvements in working memory, cognitive flexibility, and processing speed were observed.

 

Why is Mind Masters Important?

Why is Mind Masters and its research so significant? It's all about leveling the playing field for students with learning differences. Executive function skills, like working memory, are crucial for academic success, yet many children struggle in these areas, hindering their learning and development. By incorporating computerized cognitive training into the school day, we're providing targeted support to help bridge these gaps.

But it's not just about individual students—it's about shifting the entire educational landscape. Dr. Wong's research underscores the importance of recognizing and addressing learning differences in all students, not just those with formal diagnoses. It challenges us to rethink how we approach education.  If we can simultaneously improve executive functions while teaching students with language-based learning differences how they learn best, we are making big strides in improving overall academic outcomes. 

The Mind Masters Program

How Does It Work?
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MIND MASTERS

How Does It Work?

UC Riverside developed adaptive games targeting key cognitive skills like working memory, processing speed, and cognitive flexibility. Students begin with a baseline assessment to measure their starting level of targeted cognitive skills. Then, students play for 20 minutes daily, with the game adjusting in difficulty based on their performance. This personalized approach supports skill growth at an optimal pace, with progress tracked to help students and educators monitor improvement over time.

*Click to read Dr. Wong's 2022 research
Data & Reporting
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MIND MASTERS

Data & Reporting

Research involves analyzing data from 95 Prentice students to assess the impact of cognitive training. Data is collected and uploaded in aggregate to the research team at CSUSB. After 6 hours of activity, students are re-tested to measure progress across targeted cognitive skills. The analysis is conducted at the group level, allowing researchers to evaluate the overall effectiveness of the training program without releasing individual student data, ensuring confidentiality and highlighting group-wide impacts. 

*Click to read Dr. Wong's 2023 research
Research Results
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Mind Masters

Research Results

Mind Masters demonstrated measurable treatment effects on cognitive skills within just one school year. A treatment effect reflects the impact of an intervention, with higher values indicating greater effectiveness. Typically, a value from .01 to .05 indicates a small effect, .06 to .13 a moderate effect, and .14 or above a large effect. The positive results and benefits showed a moderate effect on working memory and cognitive flexibility, and a small but positive effect for processing speed.

*Click to read Dr. Wong's 2024 research
Cognitive Processing and Academics (8.5 x 8.5 in) (8.5 x 7 in) (8.5 x 5 in)
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The Director of the Mind Masters Program, Dr. Eugene Wong

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RISE at Prentice
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RISE at Prentice

 

Eugene Wong is a child psychologist and a Licensed Psychologist in California who collaborates with local school districts to address students' learning needs. Specific areas of focus include social-emotional development, achievement-related abilities (e.g., working memory and executive function), assessment and evaluation, and mentoring. 

His research interests primarily focus on the school experience of elementary through university level students. In particular, his work examines the efficacy of cognitive training programs in supporting the development of cognitive abilities (e.g., working memory, executive function, and attention) that impact academic performance and that may be associated with school engagement.

Wong has been recognized with the Golden Apple Award for Teaching, as the Outstanding Professor, and as the Outstanding Advisor at CSUSB. He is also the recipient of the Outstanding Teaching Award from the Western Psychological Association (WPA) and a Fellow in WPA. 

Wong received his Ph.D. in developmental psychology (child development) from the University of California, Riverside, and his B.A. in psychology from the University of California, Los Angeles.