Speaking My Language
Associate Professor Ivon Arryo’s mission to make math multi-lingual
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Ivon Arroyo, an associate professor at UMass Amherst’s Manning College of Information and Computer Sciences and College of Education, is advancing accessible, bilingual STEM education through cutting-edge educational technology. With support from an Institute of Diversity Sciences seed grant, she and her collaborators, including Research Professor Beverly Woolf, have developed a digital math tutoring system designed for English-Spanish bilingual learners. The program, which features language toggling and Hispanic digital avatars, aims to close opportunity gaps in STEM by honoring students’ linguistic and cultural identities, enhance math proficiency, and foster a stronger sense of belonging among underrepresented students.
Associate Professor Ivon Arroyo describes how her passion for both computer science and education led to the development of bilingual math tutoring software that empowers students to embrace their full identities while succeeding in STEM.
