Cignition delivers high-impact K-12 virtual tutoring, led by experienced educators who produce proven, repeatable results in student success. Tutors complete internal assessments, broken up by elementary, middle, and high school content areas, to validate their qualifications. Using classroom data, students are initially matched for tutoring. Teachers and tutors then utilize data from standards progress, surveys, and online activities to continuously track and enhance student progress within the established groups.
Cignition’s research-based approach focuses on data-informed instruction and collaborative learning, encouraging student-to-student interaction to build deep conceptual understanding. Cignition tutors focus on the conceptual goals of each topic. Teachers tell Cignition they can see the change in their students' engagement and participation after receiving tutoring.
In addition to the collaborative learning model, Cignition is committed to connecting students with certified educators who have experience crafting personalized learning experiences. Keeping instruction inquiry-focused empowers students to build academic confidence and critical 21st-century skills.
Cignition builds conceptual understanding, one engaged learner at a time.
Formats/platforms used:
Cigntion’s tutors, who average a decade of classroom experience, meet with students virtually in either a 1:1 or small group (4:1) setting via network-enabled Chromebooks, laptops, or iPads to address learning gaps through the use of a standards-aligned curriculum. The program can be tailored to meet an individual student’s needs, including specific K-12 standards, exam reviews, and college test prep.
Primary URL:
https://www.cignition.com/
Problem solved:
High-dosage tutoring has been proven to be a highly effective tool for bridging learning gaps for students. Rather than relying on traditional tutoring methods, Cignition focuses on the conceptual goals of each topic. Cignition’s high-dosage tutoring also addresses some of the inherent challenges in traditional tutoring, such as lack of student engagement and inadequate tutor training, all of which can lead to negative learning outcomes. Cignition embraces the fact that learning is social and focuses on facilitating quality student-to-student interactions and building healthy student-to-tutor relationships, which allow students to gain greater facility with the subject matter.
Cignition diagnoses a student’s specific needs and then matches them with a tutor to provide personal and professional guidance on their learning journey in both ELA and math. The digital tutoring format allows tutors to customize lessons using classroom assessment data and initial evaluations. Weekly progress reports further refine the sessions to meet individual student needs.
Grade/age ranges:
K-12
Does your product address core/supplemental/special needs/extracurricular/professional development?
Cignition provides instruction on all academic standards, from Counting and Cardinality (K.CC) in Kindergarten scaling all the way up to Algebra and Calculus for high school students, as well as college test prep. Cigntion’s ELA approach embraces the science of reading, ensuring students learn phonics and word recognition fundamentals. Middle school students concentrate on expanding vocabulary and furthering the presentation of knowledge and ideas as part of the curriculum, while high school students explore text types and purposes, conventions of standard English, vocabulary acquisition, and use.
Cignition’s tutors have vast experience with AD(H)D, Asperger Syndrome, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Dyscalculia & Dysgraphia, and Dyslexia, among others. While Cignition’s primary goal is academic achievement, establishing and building an environment of respect that supports student backgrounds and underlying culture is ultimately vital to student success. Tutors are trained to adopt culturally responsive and trauma-informed teaching practices to model social and emotional skills, create a restorative and inclusive climate, and encourage students to leverage cultural capital through the learning process. Qualified tutors are matched with students who have special needs, and working collaboratively with teachers, Cignition’s program managers diligently identify research-based strategies that are tailored to those who need additional support.
Standards/certifications:
Cignition provides instruction on all academic standards, with an exclusive focus on K-12 English Language Arts and math.
How much lesson time does your product need?
Tutoring sessions can be scheduled to best fit a particular school/district’s needs. Cadence can range from:
● Two, three, or four sessions a week
● 30, 45, or 60-minute sessions
● Stretched over a 14 - 18 week period (the goal is 25 contact hours per semester)
Cignition’s tutors/educators are available seven days a week from 7 am to 10 pm ET.
Pricing Model:
The cost to a district or school is variable and dependent upon the session and program length. The state, district, or school typically covers the costs for students participating in a school or district program.
Additional services:
Cignition’s tutoring is delivered through Zoom, but tutoring can be delivered through other common A/V platforms aligned with what the district is currently using for virtual instruction, including Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams. The IT administrator must allow application access. Tutoring can be delivered at school/district facilities and/or at home when devices and proper broadband are provided.
What makes Cignition unique?
Research has shown that the tailored, focused approach of high-impact/dosage tutoring, defined as 1:1 or small group sessions at least three times a week, is a powerful tool in combating learning loss. In collaboration with MTSS, a structured, evidence-based approach to teaching and intervention that addresses the “whole child,” high-impact tutoring can significantly enhance each tier of the MTSS framework, which is designed to support every student's academic and behavioral needs, recognizing that each student has unique needs. The robust combination of high-dosage tutoring with MTSS provides critical classroom support, targeted intervention, and individualized instruction.
Characteristics, User Interface, and User Experience Design:
Our program integrates virtual tutoring sessions that leverage a specialized digital platform designed to facilitate collaborative learning. While not an app in the traditional sense, our platform offers a seamless user experience by incorporating interactive digital manipulatives that students can engage with during sessions. The user interface is intuitive, allowing students to navigate through activities and resources with ease, while tutors guide the sessions in real time. The program is designed to foster a dynamic and interactive environment, where students can see each other’s work and contribute to group problem-solving exercises, enhancing their conceptual understanding through peer collaboration.
Instructional Design Principles:
Our approach is rooted in active learning and constructivist principles, where students build knowledge through direct engagement with content and collaboration with peers. The virtual environment allows for the integration of digital manipulatives that support hands-on learning, encouraging students to experiment, explore, and apply concepts in real-world contexts. We require students to have their screens turned on during sessions to facilitate face-to-face interaction and maintain a high level of engagement. Our tutors are trained in techniques that promote verbal interaction and active participation, ensuring that each student remains involved and invested in the learning process. This blend of instructional strategies ensures that our program not only delivers content effectively but also fosters a deeper understanding of the material.
Reviews:
“We are seeing most students in the program show mastery of standards they have worked on in tutoring with Cignition carry over to the classroom. When we look at our quarterly, most of the students are scoring at or above our district benchmark score. We are excited to see how our 3rd graders perform on the state test in April and how the next two quarterlies go for students.” - Courtney Hodson, Instructional Coach, Lancaster City Schools, OH
“Four days a week, I receive students who are excited to continue their learning using digital tools aligned with standards. Cignition provides students who stay after school a place to foster a sense of community, extending their learning with fun activities. They utilize 21st-century technology and activities that correlate with their daily learning. Additionally, they can experience a community with peers that extend beyond Cignition. Finally, students have shown great academic improvement in reading and math. It has given students who need to close the achievement gap the opportunity to do so.” - Anderson Martinez, Teacher, Los Angeles Unified School District, CA
“I believe Cignition brings value to my diverse classroom because my students are able to work in small groups with different mathematical thought processes! I love that the tutors can enhance my student's learning through a standards-based approach and allow my students to feel confident in their solving skills. We appreciate everything Cignition has to offer!” - Dr. Stephanie Peralta, Teacher, Denver Public Schools, CO
