DiscoverThe STEM Space187. How to Make Math Meaningful ft. Ki Karou of MIND Education
187. How to Make Math Meaningful ft. Ki Karou of MIND Education

187. How to Make Math Meaningful ft. Ki Karou of MIND Education

Update: 2025-06-13
Share

Description

Show Summary:

Have you used ST Math in your classroom? In today’s episode of The STEM Space, Natasha chats with Ki Karou, Senior Director of Product at MIND Education, creators of this game-based math program. Their goal is to challenge students through active, visual learning and critical thinking that teaches students not only to learn math, but how to think. Tune in on a great conversation including how Ki believes we should shift from “real-world” problem solving to “meaningful” problem-solving.

About Ki Karou:Ki Karou, senior director of product at MIND Education, overseeing an entire team that is all about practical, low-lift strategies for sparking meaningful math conversations in any classroom—no extra prep, no fancy materials needed. It’s super actionable stuff for teachers who want to make math more collaborative and engaging without blowing up their lesson plans.

About Mind Education: MIND Education is transforming math learning with neuroscience-driven, game-based programs like ST Math, designed to make math visual, intuitive, and accessible. With over 25 years of research-backed solutions, they empower students to develop deep conceptual understanding and build confidence in problem-solving. Their mission is simple: help students think, not just memorize, creating meaningful learning experiences that change how math is taught and understood.

Links from the Show:

Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes

180. The Secret to Loving Math ft. Nichole Austion of the National Math and Science Initiative

179. Seeing Students as Mathematicians ft. Cherelle McKnight of Illustrative Mathematics

Is Teaching Engineering Bad? - Part 1 and Part 2

Vivify STEM Blog Posts

How to Teach Growth Mindset and Failing Forward

Not all STEM is Equal: 3 Stages of STEM Education

Claire: I Didn't Always Want to be an Engineer

Vivify STEM Lessons

Astronaut Training: 4 Cs of STEM - Creativity, Collaboration, Communication, and Critical Thinking

FREE! - Using Geometry to Build a Safe Shelter!

Paper Football Math Activity

Heart Rate Ratios & Graphing Activity

FREE! - Add Math Practice to any Design Challenge using these Editable Budget Sheets

Other STEM Resources

Ki Karou | LinkedIn

MIND Education

The Game Believes in You: How Digital Play Can Make Our Kids Smarter book

“And you think they’ll qualify for Bletchley because they’re good at crossword puzzles?” Imitation Game clip

Gain access to our 200+ Lessons (& growing) STEM Space Library!

THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES

THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP

VIVIFY INSTAGRAM

VIVIFY FACEBOOK

VIVIFY X

VIVIFY TIKTOK

VIVIFY YOUTUBE

VIVIFY BLUESKY

Comments 
00:00
00:00
x

0.5x

0.8x

1.0x

1.25x

1.5x

2.0x

3.0x

Sleep Timer

Off

End of Episode

5 Minutes

10 Minutes

15 Minutes

30 Minutes

45 Minutes

60 Minutes

120 Minutes

187. How to Make Math Meaningful ft. Ki Karou of MIND Education

187. How to Make Math Meaningful ft. Ki Karou of MIND Education

Vivify STEM